S. Arles (Alice) Silbernick (1921-2018) Hospital Physics and Chemistry Instructor

Sister Arles (Alice Frances) Slibernick was born on March 14,1921 in Albany, MN to John and Mary (Deters). After eight years in a Catholic school she was encouraged by the sisters to join. She spoke of hard times in 7th and 8th grade with the treatment of students by some of the teachers. Parents didn’t object because they were people of the church. Her father did not want her to join and persuaded her with a fur coat or anything. Despite his advice, she entered the community in 1938, with the hopes of working in an orphanage. She loved children and wanted to be a teacher, especially to teach girls. When she was given orders to go into hospital work, she said she didn’t like blood and the Superior said - “you will learn” and she did.

Sister Arles ministered in health care all her life, in Minnesota and Utah. She first received her X-ray tech certification in 1943 and did not finish her  B.A. in chemistry until 1966, with minors in math and physics. She was an x-ray technician, radiological technologist, EEG technologist, instructor, hospital administrator, and medical record administrator.  She became a pioneer for nuclear medicine at the St. Cloud Hospital and set up and supervised the radioisotope department. She taught physics and chemistry to x-ray and anesthesia students. In 1969, she received a degree of Registered Record Administrator (RRA) at the School of Medical Records Science Register at Seattle University. She was a perfectionist and never took on a new assignment without knowing it well.  One of her greater challenges was when she was the administrator at St. Michael's Hospital in Richfield, Utah. The Mormons forced them out of the hospital with threats of building a new hospital, and in less than three years they closed the hospital.

She received Pope John Paul II's Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award for her service in Utah. Returning to Minnesota in 1991, she worked in the business office before moving to St. Scholastica Convent in 2011.  It was a hard transition moving from small group living to a large group. Sister Arles enjoyed hiking, mountain climbing, crocheting, reading mysteries, playing pinochle, watching figure skating, and listening to music.  In all of her service and leisure activities, she saw living each day as God's gift to her.