Sister Antoinette Van Galen, OSB, a Benedictine Sister of Boerne, passed away at St. Scholastica Monastery in Boerne, TX, on July 21, 2026, surrounded by her Benedictine Sisters. She was born in Summit, IL, on August 24, 1927, to Marie Jurchak and John Van Galen. She was the eldest of four children, with two sisters and one brother.
In the early 1930s, her family moved to Texas and eventually settled in Groves, near Port Arthur. After her mother’s passing in 1940, Sr. Antoinette and her siblings were sent to St. Mary’s Orphanage in Galveston, Texas. It was here that Sr. Antoinette was introduced to the Sisters of the Incarnate Word of Houston. During her stay, she met two Benedictine Sisters during their visit to the orphanage that year, a connection that unknowingly would change the trajectory of her life.
At the age of 15, Sr. Antoinette graduated from Incarnate Word High School in San Antonio. She then entered the Benedictine Community on July 2, 1943. Sister took her first vows on August 12, 1946, and final vows on August 12, 1949. She received her BA and a MA in Education from Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio) and a MA in Guidance and Counseling from St. Mary’s University (San Antonio).
Sr. Antoinette served in many ministries throughout her life. In Catholic School Education, her first assignment was teaching elementary school at Sacred Heart in San Antonio from 1948-56. She also taught at Immaculate Heart, Holy Spirit, St. Benedict, St. Johns, Sacred Heart in Rockne, Providence High School, and at Central Catholic High School. She was also a full-time crisis counselor during her last three years at Central Catholic High School.
From 1967-68, Sr. Antoinette responded to a request from the Benedictine Community of Mexico City to help teach high school English. From 1969-75, Sr. Antoinette served as one of the supervisors of San Antonio’s 72 Archdiocesan Schools under Superintendent Brother Edwin Goerdt, S.M. In later years, she presented spirituality classes at both our Health & Wholeness Center and Omega Retreat Center as well as serving as the Director of our Benedictine Oblate Program for many years.
Sister was an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction. She was always generous with her time helping others. She will be remembered for her love of music, especially the organ, which she often played for both Eucharistic Liturgy and Liturgy of the Hours.
Sr. Antoinette was preceded in death by her parents, Marie Jurchak and John Van Galen; her brother, William Van Galen; and her sisters, Patricia Merlau (William) and Joan Gates. She is survived by her Community of Benedictine Sisters; her nieces Linda Howell (Steve) of Pearland, TX; Judy Tucker of Manvel, TX; Terri Frederick of Aurora, CO; Deborah Guerra (Richard) of McAllen, TX; her nephew, Richard Gates (Doris) of Willis, TX, and numerous extended family members.
Services will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, at St. Scholastica Monastery. Vigil at 9:30 a.m., Mass at 10:30 a.m., and interment will follow at Holy Angels Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Benedictine Sisters, 216 W. Highland Dr., Boerne, TX 78006, or made online at www.boernebenedictines.org.