Milestones

DIED. Jeanne Deckers, fiftyish, former Dominican Sister Luc-Gabrielle who, as Belgium's "Singing Nun," became an unlikely international pop star of the 1960s with her 1963 No. 1 hit Dominique, a 2 million seller, as well as other songs whose treacly lyrics were redeemed by her catchy melodies and high, pure voice; by her own hand (she and her female roommate took an overdose of barbiturates); in Wavre, Belgium. Deckers left her order in 1966 to pursue success in the secular world, but it had already passed her by; the home she set up for autistic children recently closed for lack of money, and Belgian authorities were demanding payment of back taxes on her song earnings, which were taxable even though she had given them all to the church.