Author: Stephanie Nugent

Sister Rose Maria Birkenfeld, 86, passed away January 27, 2018 at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

She was born on September 13, 1931 in Amarillo, Texas. Upon being received as a novice at St. Scholastica Convent on December 13, 1949, she took the name Sister Mary Martin Birkenfeld. Sister Rose Maria served in St. John’s in Fort Smith, Crawford County Hospital in Van Buren, St. Joseph’s Orphanage in North Little Rock, Holy Rosary School in Stuttgart, Arkansas and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Boonville, Missouri. In 1969, she became a charter member of the new foundation of Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Columbia, Missouri, the first daughter-house of St. Scholastica Monastery. Sister Rose Maria served the Sisters of Our Lady of Peace Monastery as procurator and subprioress. She loved her work in parish ministry in Effingham, IL before she was elected to be prioress from 1999 to 2003. After her term as prioress until 2008 she was the Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Minister at St. Joseph’s in Pilot Grove, MO, St. Mary’s in Shelbina, St. Peter in Marshall, MO, and St. Boniface in Koeltztown, MO and other surrounding parishes. She held Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. After she returned to St. Scholastica, she taught formation classes, co-directed the oblate program, and worked in the monastery gift shop. She resided in the monastery infirmary and later at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab.

Sister Rose Maria is survived by two brothers, Howard (sister-in-law Annette) and Martin (sister-in-law Loretta); a sister, Sister Alice O’Brien, OSB; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Charles Birkenfeld.

Sister Rose Maria’s funeral Mass was celebrated in the monastery chapel on January 31, 2018, with Father John Schmitz presiding, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P O Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913Donate In Sr. Rose Maria Birkenfeld’s Memory
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Sister Rose Ashour, age 101, died February 15, 2018, at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab in Fort Smith, AR.

The family of John Ashour and Catherine Bauer Ashour welcomed their daughter, Rose Mary, into their family April 17, 1916, in Morrison Bluff, AR. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent on June 24, 1933, she took the name Sister Mary Alcuin. Sister Rose served in Arkansas at Sacred Heart School in Charleston, St. Anthony’s School in Ratcliff, St. Boniface School in Bigelow, St. Scholastica School in Shoal Creek, St. John the Baptist School in Brinkley, and St. Ignatius School in Scranton; and in Missouri at Immaculate Conception School in Moberly, St. Michael School in Kansas City, and St. Joseph School in Pilot Grove; and in Oklahoma at St. Joseph School in Ada. In 1969, she became a charter member of the new foundation of Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Columbia, MO. Sr. Rose served as sub-prioress at Our Lady of Peace from 1976 to 1980. Following that role she served in parish ministry in Memphis, MO. She earned her Bachelor Degree in Secondary Education at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS, a Masters in Secondary Education: Elementary Administration at St. Mary’s College in Xavier, KS, with additional education in canon law and moral theology at St. Scholastica College in Duluth, MN, and University of Dallas. Upon moving back to St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 2010 she resided in the monastery infirmary and later at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab.

Sister Rose is survived by 192 beloved nieces and nephews and great-nieces and –nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents and brothers and sisters, Agnes Kennedy, Gertrude Schneider, Martin Ashour, Sr. Kathleen Ashour, OSB, Mary Ann Flusche, Dorothy Jackson, Barbara Chrisman, and Paul Ashour. Pallbearers will be Nick Kennedy, Pat Kennedy, Titus Ashour, Tommy Ashour, Nicky McGarrey, William Schneider, Kenny Schneider, Jerome Flusche, and John Flusche. Honorary pallbearers are Dan Ashour and Gary Chrisman.

Vespers for the Dead were February 23, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in the Monastery Chapel. The funeral Mass was February 24, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. with Father Les Farley as presider. Burial was in the monastery cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.

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A Poem Composed by Sister Rose Ashour

God is Here
His voice
I heard it in the wind
He spoke to me in sunshine and in rain.
Flowers,birds and squirrels echoed his “Yes I am here.”
All these spoke of Beauty.
Then down the pathway
Where I stood.
I saw a boy, a girl, a man, a woman,
His face was there–in theirs, the image of God.
This time I heard no voice,
But faith told me,
“Often you hear him
But seldom see.”
So listen and look He’s so near.

Vocation Story

Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913Donate In Sr. Rose Ashour’s Memory
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Sister Jeremy Molett, age 87, died October 6, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith.

The family of Pete Molett and Uneeta Cline Molett welcomed their daughter, Jo Ann, into their family August 26, 1931, in Rathbun, Iowa. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent on June 24, 1959, she took the name Sister Mary Jeremy Molett. Sister Jeremy served at St. Francis deSales in Lebanon, MO; St. Joseph’s School in Pilot Grove, MO; Holy Rosary School in Stuttgart, AR; Saints Cyril & Methodius School in Slovak, AR; Fort Smith public schools as a teacher; Belle Point and Albert Pike schools in Fort Smith as a principal. She studied at American Business Institute in Des Moines, IA, earned a BS in elementary education at University of Central Arkansas, Conway, and an MA in educational administration at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She resided in the monastery infirmary and later at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab.

Sister Jeremy is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews: Linnae Molett Lockwood and husband Bruce Lockwood, Michael Molett and wife Maria Molett; Craig Molett and wife Cindy Molett. Great-nieces and great-nephews are Alexis Molett Anderson and husband Matthew Anderson; Tabitha Molett; Patricia (Tricia) Molett; Mathew Molett and wife Melissa; and Corey Molett. Great-great nieces and nephews are Sophia and Alexandra Anderson, Brody Molett, and Samantha Molett. Preceding her in death are her parents, brother Pete Molett (sister-in-law Virginia) and sisters, Betty Molett, and Dawn Molett Furlin (brother-in-law John Furlin).

Vespers for the Dead were Friday, October 19, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in the Monastery Chapel. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. with Father Les Farley as presider. Burial was in the Monastery cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P O Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.Donate In Sr. Jeremy (Jo Ann) P. Molett’s Memory
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Sister Macrina Wiederkehr, age 80, died April 24, 2020, at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith. The family of Henry Wiederkehr and Marion (Eveld) Wiederkehr welcomed their daughter, Martha Ann, into their family on July 28, 1939, in Altus. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent on June 24, 1957, she took the name Sister Mary Macrina Wiederkehr. Sister Macrina taught at St. Boniface School in Bigelow, St. Joseph School in Ada, Okla., and St. Gabriel School in Kansas City, Mo., and served at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lebanon, Mo., Springfield, Mo. Branson, Mo., El Dorado, Mo., Marshfield, Mo., and Ozark, Mo., and St. Thomas Newman Center in Fayetteville. She served as a vocation director, retreat director and spiritual director at St. Scholastica Monastery and Center and in the diaconate ministry for the Diocese of Little Rock. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education at Mount Angel College in Oregon and her master’s degree in religious education at St. Thomas University in Houston. She was the beloved author of nine books.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Raymond and Basil Wiederkehr; and two sisters, Henriette Ann and Dorothy Alice Wiederkehr.

She is survived by a brother, Joseph Wiederkehr; two sisters, Edna O’Neill and Mary Lou Bennett; her beloved nieces; and members of her Benedictine family.

Mass for Christian Burial for Sister Macrina will be held at a later date. Please remember Sister Macrina in your prayers.

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith.Leave A Guestbook MessageView Guestbook EntriesIn lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.Donate In Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr’s Memory
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Sister Ethel Marie Sonnier, age 85, died June 14, 2020, at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The family of John L. Sonnier and Isabelle Thibodeaux Sonnier welcomed their daughter, Ethel Marie, into their family January 13, 1935, in Church Point, Louisiana. Sister Ethel Marie entered Immaculate Conception Convent in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 2, 1950. On June 17, 1973, she transferred her vows to St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Sister Ethel Marie taught at St. Anne’s High School for one year she served as Religion Teacher at St. Gabriel Parish in Kansas City, Missouri and at Maria Immaculata School in Houma, Louisiana. For nineteen years, she served on the core team at Hesychia House of Prayer in New Blaine, Arkansas. In 2014 she moved to the monastery infirmary and later to Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Sister Ethel Marie’s gentle and quiet, gentle presence and deep spirituality endeared her to many. She loved playing the guitar and composed many spiritual songs. She became involved in clowning ministry and loved to dress up as ‘Tot’ and perform simple mime programs at the monastery and in area nursing homes. She had a deep love for her French Acadian heritage.

Sister Ethel Marie is survived by her sister, Clara Darbonne, and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Allen Joseph Sonnier, Wilber Joseph Sonnier; and sisters Rosa Mae S. Williams, Marie Louise Sonnier, Mary Leora S. Oak-ley, Mattie D. Sonnier, and Betty Ann S. Sparks.

The Mass for Christian Burial for Sister Ethel Marie will be a private cer-emony due to Covid-19. Please remember Sister Ethel Marie in your prayers.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.Donate In Sr. Ethel Marie Sonnier’s Memory
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Sister Barbara Schroeder, OSB, 91, of St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, Arkansas died on December 27, 2020. She had been a professed sister for seventy-two years.

Sister Barbara (Therese Elizabeth) was born April 21, 1929 in Windthorst, Texas to her parents, Bernard and Sophia (Humpert) Schroeder. Drawn to the Benedictine way of life she entered St. Scholastica Monastery at an early age and after finishing high school, she attended Avila College, in Kansas City, Missouri where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Sister Barbara taught for forty-seven years in parochial schools in Arkansas: Barling, Lake Village, Paris, and St. Edward’s, Little Rock, where she also served as assistant principal. She also taught at St. Joseph’s for six years in Amarillo, Texas. Sister Barbara served as parish minister at St. John’s Russellville, Arkansas for five years.

After retiring from teaching and parish ministry, Sister Barbara managed the diet kitchen for six years at the monastery. She then assisted in the monastery gift shop and helped the monastery procurator. Sister Barbara remained active in the community until her health began to decline. During her many years of service to the people of God, Sister Barbara blessed the community with her gentle spirit and creative talents of cooking, crafts, and embroidering beautiful tea-towels. She enjoyed crafts, and the beauty of butterflies, and birds. New and old acquaintances experienced her gracious hospitality. In her later years, the love and care shown to her by her religious Sisters, Regina and Stephanie, were true testaments of the love of natural born and monastic family.

Sister Barbara is survived by three sisters, Sister Stephanie Schroeder and Sister Regina Schroeder both of St. Scholastica Monastery, Mary Rose (Bob) Lehmann of St. Louis, Missouri, three brothers, George (Ann) Schroeder of Leominster, Massachusetts Bernard (Emily) Schroeder of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and Raymond (Anita) Schroder of Kansas City, Missouri, many beloved nieces and nephews and members of her Benedictine community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Sophia Schroeder, her brothers, Clarence Schroeder, Elmer Schroeder of Windthorst, Texas, Brother Leonard Schroeder, OSB and Sister Marietta Schroeder, OSB.

Due to Covid 19, memorial services will be held at a later date with Abbot Leonard Wangler, OSB of Subiaco Abbey as celebrant and Father Les Farley as con-celebrant. Funeral services are under the direction of Fentress/Edwards Funeral Home, Fort Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, PO Box 3489, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72913.Donate In Sr. Barbara Schroeder’s Memory
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Sister Audrey Becker, age 89, died August 13, 2020, at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The family of Aloysius and Regina (Schmitz) Becker welcomed their daughter, Mildred Loraine Elizabeth, into their family on October 5, 1930 in Paris, Arkansas. The death of her mother when she was a young girl had a lasting impact on her life. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent on June 24, 1947 she took the name Sister Mary Audrey Becker. Sister Audrey was a member of the monastic community for seventy-four years. She taught at St. Meinrad’s School in Prairie View, St. Winand’s School in McGhee, Sts. Peter and Paul School in Morrison Bluff, St. Vincent DePaul School in Rogers, St. Vincent’s School in Hattieville, St. Mary’s School in Altus, St. Boniface School in Fort Smith, and St. Joseph School in Paris, Arkansas. She also taught at St. Gabriel School in Kansas City and St. Francis De Sales School in Lebanon, Missouri, as well as St. Martin De Porres School in Amarillo, and Nazareth School in Nazareth, Texas. As a young sister, in first profession, she served her community as sacristan. Following a forty year teaching career Sister Audrey served as Assistant to the Director of St. Scholastica Center. From 2001 until 2015, she served as the monastery Secretary/Treasurer. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education at Quincy College in Quincy, IL and her Master’s Degree in religious education at Loyola University in Chicago, IL. Sister Audrey enjoyed cooking; one favorite recipe included her famous cashew chicken. She excelled at computers, and various kinds of arts and crafts. She was gifted in growing Christmas cactus plants. She was close to her family and loved to share stories of her many experiences. One of her stories was of her year of teaching 72 first graders at St. Boniface in the 1950’s. She liked peanut butter, Native American dream-catchers, Payday candy bars and playing games on her laptop. She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Elizabeth (Schmitz) Becker; three brothers, Wilfred, Kenneth, and Steven Becker her sister, Pat Brannon; her sister-in-law, Nancy Becker; and her brothers-in-law, Arland Perkins and Jerry Sax. She is survived by a brother, David Becker; her four sisters, Fran Perkins, Jean and Dr. Charles Holman, Jr. Deloris Sax, Glenda and Don Barnett, her sisters-in-law, Doris Becker and Lisa Becker; her many beloved nieces and nephews; and members of her Benedictine family.

Mass for Christian Burial for Sister Audrey will be held at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.Donate In Sr. Audrey Becker’s Memory
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Sister Alice O’Brien, OSB, age 75, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery, died suddenly at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab on October 17, 2020. Alice Grace Birkenfeld was born on March 9, 1945 in Amarillo, Texas, to John and Doris Moore Birkenfeld. She attended St. Joseph School in Amarillo for her primary education and then St. Mary’s Academy for high school.

Alice married Daniel O’Brien in 1963 and had six children. After her divorce in 1984, she studied to be a registered nurse and then received a bachelor’s degree in health arts from St. Francis College in Joliet, Illinois, all while lovingly raising her six children. For many years she worked as a registered nurse and was active in St. Thomas Parish in Elkhart, Indiana. Her favorite volunteer activities were with the pro-life movement.

Sister Alice loved her work as a nurse. After receiving an annulment of her marriage, she entered Our Lady of Peace Monastery in Columbia, Missouri, on August 3, 2000, where her sister, Sister Rose Maria Birkenfeld, was prioress. She became a novice in 2001 and made temporary profession on August 15, 2003. While in Columbia, she was vocation director and worked at a nursing home. On March 17, 2008, she transferred to St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and renewed her temporary profession on August 15, 2008. On June 24, 2011, she made perpetual profession.

In the monastic community in Fort Smith, Sister Alice served as an assistant in the Infirmary, as a spiritual director, as assistant vocation director, and as formation director. She offered her talents as hairstylist after joining the monastery. She also took classes through the Little Rock School of Theology and volunteered at Heart to Heart Pregnancy Support Center in Fort Smith. She was well known for her Santa’s Coffee Cake, candy cane cookies, and crocheted angels and tops for hand towels which were all popular items at the monastery’s annual bake sale. Sister Alice balanced well her love and devotion for her children and grandchildren with her faithful commitment to her monastic duties as a member of the St. Scholastica community.

As her health declined, Sister Alice moved to the Infirmary and then to Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her former husband, Daniel O’Brien; her son, Daniel; her brother, Charles Birkenfeld; and her sister, Sister Rose Maria Birkenfeld. She is survived by her sons, Stephen, Christopher, and Andy (Charda); her daughters, Tamara O’Brien and Cynthia O’Brien; her daughter-in-law, Arlene; many beloved grandchildren; her brothers, Martin Birkenfeld (Loretta) and Howard Birkenfeld (Annette); her nieces and nephews; and members of her Benedictine community.

The Mass for Christian Burial will be private due to Covid-19 with Father Les Farley as the presider. Arrangements are under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Homes.

Memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.Donate In Sr. Alice O’Brien’s Memory
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Sister Dolores Rachel Dietz, age 85, died June 7, 2021, at St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The family of Gustave and Helena (Jansen) Dietz welcomed their daughter, Dolores Pauline, into their family on September 26, 1935 in Happy, Texas. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent on June 24, 1953 she took the name Sister Rachel. Later she legally changed her name to Dolores Rachel. Sister Rachel was a member of the monastic community for sixty-six years.

In Arkansas she taught at St. Anthony’s School in Ratcliff and St. John’s School in Brinkley, and in Missouri at St. Michael’s School (later changed to St. Gabriel’s School) in Kansas City. She worked in religious education in McGehee, Arkansas, Fort Smith, and Springfield, Missouri. After receiving a Masters in Social Work from St. Louis University, she served as a clinical social worker and therapist in St. Louis and at St. Pius X Parish in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

From 2001 to 2011 she served as subprioress in the community. She continued her work as a counselor and spiritual director. In 2008, she began participating in an Ignatian spiritual director formation program through the Sisters in Piedmont, Oklahoma, and then initiated the program in Fort Smith. She continued organizing and teaching in the program until the month before she died. Through this program, many participants deepened their spiritual life, and many were trained to be spiritual directors.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Theology at Mundelein College in Chicago, Illinois and her Master’s degree in the Psychology of Religion from the University of O’Hara in Ontario, Canada. Sister enjoyed reading, cooking, hiking, movies, singing, playing dominoes and cards, and attending plays and musicals. She was gifted in growing orchids. Sister Rachel was dedicated to those in AA programs and sought to serve the underprivileged. She was close to her family and loved to share stories of her many experiences.

She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Phillip, John, Sylvester, Alfred, Richard, and James; and her two sisters, Rita Fogarty and Louise Chisum. She is survived by her many beloved nieces and nephews, loving friends, and members of her Benedictine family.

Due to Covid-19, Mass for Christian Burial for Sister Rachel will be held at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.Donate In Sr. Dolores Rachel Dietz’s Memory
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