Sister Cleta Bakewell's Story & Gallery

Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Cleta Bakewell grew up living and working on her family farm in Lansing, Iowa, and entered St. Rose Convent in 1909. She recalls having an inborn talent for art and covering the pages of her school books in drawings. Traditional art materials like watercolors or oil paints were not available to her. Instead, she used house paints and the cellar door and walls of her family barn as her canvas. Sister Cleta had a great appreciation for the loveliness of nature which helped her to develop an artistic sense for the beautiful. At St. Rose Convent, Sister Cleta continued her interest in art and worked with Sister Marietta Hackner, Sister Kiliana Burghauser and Sister Clara Leinfelder in the St. Rose Art Department. Most of Sister Cleta’s religious life was spent at St. Rose Convent where she was painting and teaching. Sister Cleta passed away at St. Rose Convent at 66 years of age.