Frahm, Bede, OP, of Grand Rapids (born Laura Adele Frahm in Isabel, South Dakota) died on October 31, 2015. She was 100 years old and a Dominican Sister for 80 years.
Sister Bede earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics from Fontbonne College, St. Louis, Missouri. She also studied spirituality and hospitality at Aquinas Institute of Theology, Dubuque, Iowa; Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and Delta College in the Saginaw area.
Sister Bede served in the food service ministry for thirty-eight years. Her work with Brother Herman Zacarelli CSC and Fr. Ken Silvia CSC at the Food Research Center opened new horizons of consciousness, especially concern for people oppressed by unfair systems and bias. Sister Bede was an early advocate for respect and equality for people working in food service, and through her initiative a strong component in spirituality was incorporated into the program.
While at St. Joseph’s Parish in Saginaw, Sister Bede, in collaboration with others, initiated programs to promote the concepts of self-development and provide emergency services through the Good Neighbor Mission – a ministry that continues today.
In 1980, a new vista of serving God opened as Sister Bede began twenty-one years of pastoral ministry at Holy Spirit Parish in Shields, Michigan. Fr. Bob Bryne wrote in honoring her on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee: “she does everything in a gracious and prayerful spirit. Her whole life has been a prayer lifted up to God.”
Sister Bede is survived by nieces Betty Jo Boissonneault, Rae Jean Jump and many other nieces and nephews; a loving community and many friends, especially Virginia (Greene) Lewis and Sister Maureen Flanagan, OP.
Sister Bede will repose at Dominican Chapel/Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, with visitation on Tuesday, November 3 from 4:00-7:00 pm with a Remembering Service at 7:00 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4 at Dominican Chapel/Marywood. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Bede Frahm’s name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund.
