Former Jonesboro principal was a nun for 64 years

Published: June 7, 2019

Sister M. Lenore Dust, an Olivetan Benedictine sister for 64 years and former principal at Blessed Sacrament School in Jonesboro, died May 14. She was 90.

Sister Lenore was born Anna Eugenia in Pocahontas to Henry and Anna Dust. She entered Holy Angels Convent in 1955, several years after her high school graduation. She was inspired by the example of her older sister, Sister Georgia Dust. She made her first vows in 1957 and perpetual vows in 1962.

After working in the St. Bernard Hospital office for a few years, she was appointed administrator of Consolata Retirement Home in New Iberia, La., in 1966. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Bernards College in Alabama and a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

Sister Lenore taught in elementary schools in Arkansas and Texas. She became principal at Blessed Sacrament School in Jonesboro and oversaw the school’s first accreditation by the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accreditation Association. After she retired from education, Sister Lenore visited patients at St. Bernard until her retirement in 2008.

There are no immediate survivors.

A visitation and rosary was held May 17. A Mass of Christian Burial was May 18 at the convent chapel, with interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery at the convent. Memorials may be sent to Holy Angels Convent Retirement Fund, 1699 CR 766, Jonesboro, AR, 72401.