SISTER ROSEMARY RUFENER

Sr. Rosemary was born in St. Vincent, Arkansas, October 1, 1917, to Martin and Celestine Stoffel Rufener. She was given the name Clementine at her baptism on October 8, 1917.. Clementine entered St. Scholastica Convent May 15, 1933 taking the name Rosemary whereupon she attended St. Scholastica Academy graduating in 1936. She received a three-year elementary Teacher’s Certificate July 31, 1943. Continuing her education, she received her B.A. from Marymount College in Salina, KS in 1959 with a major in history and minors in English, philosophy, and Education; an M.A. in Education with a minor in history from Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1965; and in 1969 received a Texas Life Professional Elementary Administrator Certificate.

From 1936 to 1973, Sister Rosemary taught elementary school in several schools in and around Arkansas: St. John’s School in Clear Creek, Missouri; St. Joseph’s School in Paris; St. Joseph’s School in Center Ridge; Marche; St. Mary’s School in Lake Village; St. Boniface in Fort Smith; Sacred Heart School in Hartman; Scranton; St. Michael’s School (later called St. Gabriel) in Kansas City, Missouri; St. Joseph’s School in Amarillo, Texas; Amarillo Public School, Amarillo, Texas. In 1973 she changed from teaching to other works: St. Benedict Center in Madison, Wisconsin; parish work at St. Hyacinth Parish and St. Mary’s Parish, both of Amarillo, Texas. In 1997 she was assigned to parish work at St. Joseph’s Church in Paris, Arkansas; there she visited the elderly and infirm in the hospital and nursing homes. In 2000 she returned to the monastery where she served as a receptionist until very recently. She also served as a volunteer receptionist in the Pastoral Care Department at Sparks Regional Medical Center until her health prevented that service.