- Date Of Birth: February 25, 1927
- Date Of Death: July 7, 2010
- State: Connecticut
BETHLEHEM, Reverend Mother Stephen Prokes, OSB, 83, a Benedictine nun of the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut, died on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury.
Mother Stephen was born Mary Louise Prokes on February 25, 1927 in Jackson, Minnesota to Wenceslaus and Ludmilla (Dostal) Prokes, the fifth of six children in a devout Catholic family.
She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree at Mount Marty College and her Master’s degree in Education at Mankato State Teachers College, becoming a teacher of English and physical education. She taught at Marycliff High School in Spokane, Washington, and at the Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Mankato, Minnesota. She also taught with the Benedictine Sisters at Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota for two years, before entering Regina Laudis in September 1953. She was clothed as Sister Stephen in September 1954, and made her Perpetual Vows and received the Consecration of a Virgin on March 12, 1959; she celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2006.
When Mary entered Regina Laudis, a tall woman with beautiful blue eyes, experienced in farming and animal husbandry, the nuns knew very little about farming.
Besides her love of nature and competence with land and animals, and unusual capacity to introduce others to these, Mother Stephen had a love of culture, literature and poetry. She was devoted to the Divine Office, and was known for her faithful presence throughout the years at the Office of Matins in the night. Mother Stephen showed great courage and strength of character in the final days of her suffering, continuing to be a touchstone of hope for so many, as she had been throughout her life.
