Jeanette Hinds, OSB
September 30, 1923 – September 5, 2017
Though it was nine years later that Sister Jeanette followed her older sister, Sister Millicent, into a Benedictine community, they were close. Sister Jeanette missed Sister Millicent intensely after she died in 1999. One brother had died very young and they were close to their remaining brother, James, and his family. Cousins were an important part of their familial relationships, too. Sister Jeanette was very proud of her parents and frequently mentioned that her mother was English, born in England.
Millicent was among the founding members of Annunciation Monastery and, having just completed her bachelor’s degree in music from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota, Sister Jeanette was among those in the first class of postulants at Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, North Dakota. Though she loved her life as a Sister of St. Benedict, Sister Susan Lardy noted in her reflection at the Vigil that Sister Jeanette “would be the first to say that it was not always easy and free of disappointment and discouragement.” As an upbeat, enthusiastic person, Sister Jeanette drew upon inner resources from having grown up in a happy home where creativity, faith, and music were encouraged.
Music was a huge part of Sister Jeanette’s life. It was as a third grader that she began violin and piano lessons and began playing organ in the eighth grade. As a member of Annunciation Monastery, Sister Jeanette was an elementary school music teacher for 37 years in North Dakota parochial schools in Mandan, Bismarck, and Dickinson, and gave private lessons on the piano and violin. She also was church organist for more than 50 years. A great joy for her was to be a violinist in the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony where she liked getting to know and being friends with other musicians. Their September 16, 2017 concert was dedicated to her memory with “lots of love. Her love for music and the sharing of music with others was palpable and we will all greatly miss that special twinkle in her eye and smile.” Both Sister Millicent and Sister Jeanette were active in founding the local Orff chapter and at the time of their deaths, an Orff musical instrument was donated to the University of Mary Music Department in their honor.
Perhaps Sister Jeanette is remembered most for her presence and service at Saint Mary’s School and Parish in Bismarck. She taught music, helped plan funeral liturgies, was a parish visitor at Bismarck’s two hospitals and enjoyed parish events and liturgies. She loved visiting with the people of the parish.
Sister Susan Lardy noted that Sister Jeanette, who had a unique sense of humor and a radiant smile, found delight in many simple things each day, reading the complete Bismarck Tribune daily with special attention to the “Pickles” comic strip. Sister Susan spoke of being with Sister Jeanette, singing and praying, one afternoon in her last days. “Then she raised her hand as if to conduct my singing. I think she found my rhythm was not the way she would have wanted it. She just smiled!! It was a wonderful moment.” Sister Jeanette is now commended to the wonder of God.
Tribute prepared by Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, North Dakota.