Obituary: Sister Agnes Fleck

Sister Agnes died March 5, 2025. She was born March 18,1935, in Wilmington, Delaware, to John Carl Fleck and Agnes Marie (Boyle), and had two brothers, John and James. The family relocated to Virginia, Minnesota where young Agnes taught by Benedictine Sister Lucy, was inspired to become a Sister. She attended Stanbrook Hall High School in Duluth as an aspirant and at age 18 entered St. Scholastica Priory. After her vows in 1955, Sister John Marie, named in honor of her parents, taught elementary school in Cloquet, Ely, Wayzata, and Minneapolis. She eventually returned to her baptismal name, Agnes. In the summer she taught catechism and studied at The College of St. Scholastica, earning degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education, Theology, and English. At Central High School in Duluth, she taught English, composition, and cinematics, and at the College composition and mythology.  Sister Agnes earned a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota and then following Shakespearian studies in London, England, returned to the College to teach British and American literature, drama, and her beloved Shakespeare for almost 40 years. She retired in 2014.

For years she presented scholarly papers at the annual meeting of the Shakespeare Association of America, and every five years for the international association which took her to Stratford-upon-Avon, Berlin, Tokyo, Valentia, and Brisbane. With grants from National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) she studied tragic drama and Japanese music and mythology. With a St. Scholastica Faculty Development Grant, she studied Chinese arts and culture in Beijing, Xian, and Guangzhou. She returned to China to teach English at Xinxiang University in Henan Province and found the students as eager as she was to discuss Shakespearean drama. In 2004 she traveled to Italy with the Benedictine Rome Study Program, visiting Rome, Venice, Montecassino, Subiaco, and Norcia.

In a 2012 interview, Sister Agnes shared how rich her life had been. “Many times, I took for granted the persons who have given me so much, but I am grateful to all. I hope I have given a measure of love for this world and its beauty back to all, especially to my students.”

Sister Agnes was preceded in death by her parents and brothers. She is survived by her sister-in-law Elizabeth (James) Fleck of Suwanee, Georgia, by nephews and nieces, and by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery.

Wake service and Morning Prayer with visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 14, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. with Father Corbin Eddy presiding. Interment in Gethsemane Cemetery at the Monastery. Funeral arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555. The wake and funeral will be streamed at https://youtube.com/live/qC9I-fUXCmw?feature=share.