Sister Elaine Freund, ASC, celebrated 60 years with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. She made her first profession on July 1, 1964, and her final vows on June 29, 1969. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharistic liturgy, followed by a reception.
Sister Elaine, one of seven children, was born to Joseph, Sr. and Vivian Freund, and grew up in Waterloo, IL. She received her BA in English from St. Louis University in 1967 and her Master of Arts in Humanities, specializing in film and theatre, from the State University of New York, Buffalo, in 1980. She has directed dinner theatres, children’s plays and musicals.
Sister Elaine’s teaching ministry spanned 41 years, including 32 years at Gibault High School in Waterloo. She also taught on the elementary level at St. Clare in O’Fallon, and Saints Peter and Paul in Waterloo, IL. On the secondary level, she taught at St. Pius X High School in Festus, MO, and St. Edmond HS in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Her fields were Film Study, Literature, Writing, and Religion. At Gibault she served on numerous committees, councils, and advisory boards. She continued coaching Scholastic Bowl at Gibault for another ten years after her retirement.
Besides teaching, another ministry was serving as secretary to the provincial of the order for five years.
Sister Elaine retired from full-time teaching in 2013. She is currently a member of the Monroe County Retired Teachers Association and the SS. Peter and Paul Mary and Martha Society in Waterloo. She is a part-time associate of the Communications Team of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ at their Regional Offices in St. Louis, where her main projects consist of writing and editing. She is also a volunteer caregiver for a homebound woman in Waterloo. She continues to live in Waterloo as part of the Neighborhood Community.