Sr. Cabrini Chauvin, CSJ, died Friday, January 7, 2011, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was 89 and had been in religious life for 70 years.

She was born Eleanor Chauvin in Detroit on July 1, 1921, the daughter of Bernard and Loretta (Ruedisueli) Chauvin. She was a member of St. Philip Neri Parish in Detroit at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on June 29, 1940. She received the name Sr. Cabrini at her reception on January 7, 1941. She pronounced first vows on January 8, 1943, and final vows on January 8, 1946.

Sr. Chauvin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Nazareth College and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Detroit. She had a great love for the teaching profession and taught in many schools including St. Rita, Detroit; St. Veronica, Eastpointe; St. James, Ferndale; and St. Mary, Williamston. For several summers she taught English Literature at Nazareth College and for one year taught remedial reading to inmates at the Detroit House of Correction.

After spending thirty-eight years in the classroom, she retired due to poor health and was able to do religious education and pastoral ministry at St. Malachy Parish in Sterling Heights. In 1981 Sr. Chauvin retired to St. Sylvester Convent in Warren and in 1991 moved to Fontbonne Manor.

Sr. Chauvin is survived by a brother, Barney Chauvin of New Baltimore and many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass was Jan. 11 in the Holy Family Chapel. Interment was to have been in Gate of Heaven Cemetery at Nazareth.

Memorials to Congregation of St. Joseph, 3427 Gull Road, PO Box 29, Nazareth, 49074.