Colette Neigel Monat

Obituary Lucille Francis Neigel was born May 8, 1946 in Pierre, SD; along with her twin sister, Gertrude, who went to meet the Lord that day. Colette passed on Sept. 6, 2014 after living with cancer for 4 years. She was raised in Eagle Butte, SD and there she graduated from Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School in 1964. In 1966, she joined the Benedictine Community at St. Martin's Priory, Rapid City, SD. There she directed retreats, served as formation director, was functional in all aspects of music, with her guitar always close by. She was a favorite kindergarten teacher as St Elizabeth Seton in Rapid City and was much loved by all the children. She also taught in Casper, WY, Baker, MT and Aberdeen, SD. She furthered her education in many regions including School of Mines, RCSD, Black Hill State in Spearfish, SD, and St Louis University for her Masters in Religious Education; her penchant for learning and teaching others was unending. In 1984 her life took a new direction with a move to Denver, CO to the Franciscan Motherhouse for a short time, followed by her move to join the Benet Hill Monastery in Colorado Springs, CO, where she was a director of the Benet Pines Retreat Center, also a mind-body-spirit counselor. Colette met and married the love of her life, JP 'Japes' Monat on December 21, 1991. Colette was always full of love and had great joy for JP, her family, her dear pets, camping in Buena Vista, her music/dancing, her friends and ... ice cream! A good competitive game of canasta with her sisters and brother was always on the agenda. She will always be remembered for her generosity in serving others, unselfish deeds, her sense of humor and her infectious, unforgettable smile and laughter. Colette owned her own business- Alternative Holistic Healing from 1991 to the present, offering her clients a wide variety of healing therapies. Survivors include her husband, JP Monat, sisters Mary Helen Riss, Rosie Galbraith, Shirley McDermaid (Richard), Clarie Melvin (Bob), Gloria Allen, all of Rapid City, SD , Alma Hill of Burleson, TX, Sharon Neigel (Jeff), of Tumwater, WA, and her brother Clarence 'Bud' Neigel (Helen) of Eagle Butte, SD and sister-in-law Madalyn Monat of Ludlow, MA and numerous nieces and nephews. Those preceding her in death were her mother, Theresia and father, Anton Neigel, sisters Gertrude Neigel, Julie Hinkley, Phyllis Schneider and Alice Myers and also 7 brothers-in-law. Visitation or vigil will be held at Benet Hill Monastery on Thurs Sept 18 at 7 PM and Funeral Services will be held at Benet Hill Monastery in Black Forest, CO on Fri Sept 19 at 10 AM. A memorial mass will be held Sept. 20 at 7 PM at Holy Cross Chapel/Terra Sancta in Rapid City, SD. Services Vigil Service Thursday September 18, 2014 7:00 PM Benet Hill Monastery 3190 Benet Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80921 Funeral Mass Friday September 19, 2014 10:00 AM Benet Hill Monastery 3190 Benet Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80921