Sister Lillian (Mary William) Harrington, OSB, 96, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died April 1, 2014, at the monastery. The vigil service will be on Friday, April 4, at 7 pm in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be offered there Saturday, April 5, at 10:30 am.

She was born to James and Mamie O’Brien Harrington in rural Blaine, Kansas, made monastic profession on Jan. 1, 1936, and celebrated her 75th anniversary of profession in 2011. She received a B.A. in history from Mount St. Scholastica College and an M.A. in speech and drama from the Catholic University of America. She earned graduate credits from several universities and from the St. John University program in Israel. Her teaching career spanned 52 years. Among other places, she taught at Lillis High School in Kansas City, Mo., and St. Joseph High School, Shawnee, Ks., and was a speech instructor at Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, Mo., for 17 years.

Sister Lillian truly made the Gospel message hers, so much so that her storytelling became a part of her “pilgrim ministry” often requested by church groups and retreatants. She developed diocesan and parish workshops, and her students learned to proclaim the Word. She had a gift for celebrating life and creating beauty wherever she went. Her presence lit up the room, and she was able to draw out the talents of others. Her spirit lives on in the lives of those she touched.

Sister Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, James and William; and her sisters, Lillian Harrington, Loretta Mills and Mary Cummings. She is survived by nieces and nephews and by her monastic family.

Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home (www.beckerdyer.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s web site (www.mountosb.org).