Sister Elizabeth Rossi, OSB, 91, passed away October 24, 2017. She was born on April 16, 1926 to Paul Rossi and Jane DeSalvo Rossi and was given the name Grace Helen. She grew up on a farm in Center Ridge, AR with her five sisters and three brothers. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent June 24, 1944, she took the name Sister Mary Elizabeth Rossi. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, TX and a Master’s degree in Education at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Sister Elizabeth spent 45 years teaching elementary school in St. Boniface School in Fort Smith, Archbishop O’Brien School in Russellville, St. Edward School in Little Rock, St. Joseph School in Fayetteville, and several other schools in Arkansas and Missouri. She served as the community’s subprioress from 1977-81. Upon moving back to the monastery, she became house coordinator for the Sisters before retiring to the Infirmary and then Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab. Sister Elizabeth is survived by a brother, Pete Rossi, and a sister, Bernadine Rossi Noll.

Preceding her in death are her parents; four sisters: Sister Mary Paul Rossi, Annie Rossi, Josie Rossi, and Madeline Rossi; and two brothers, Tony Rossi and Angelo Rossi. Her nieces and nephews served as pallbearers.

Vespers for the Dead were prayed on October 30, 2017 and her funeral Mass was celebrated October 31, 2017, with Father Les Farley presiding, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913 Donate In Sr. Elizabeth Rossi’s Memory
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Sister Anne Michele Raley, OSB, of St. Scholastica Monastery, passed away on March 6, 2017. In her 66 years of religious life she was a teacher, monastery treasurer, secretary, bookkeeper, and a strong advocate for peace and social justice. Her passion for justice was nurtured through jobs in Friendship House, ACORN, St. Joseph’s Day Care Center, and Heifer, Inc. In retirement she served on the monastery social concerns committee, witnessed for peace each Sunday afternoon during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and sought justice for all God’s children, especially those marginalized by society.

She was born July 10, 1924 to Thomas and Anna Raley, growing up with three brothers and four sisters in Paragould, Ark. She entered St. Scholastica Monastery in 1948, earned a business degree from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Tx. and taught for sixteen years at St. Scholastica Academy; St. Edward School, Little Rock; St. Mary School, Barling; and St. Vincent School, Rogers. After serving five years as her community treasurer, Sister Anne Michele began a thirty-year career as a secretary in bookkeeper in Chicago, Kansas City, and Little Rock. From 1978-98, she worked at St. Joseph’s Day Care Center in North Little Rock.

In addition to her social justice work, Sister Anne served the community in retirement as a receptionist and mail clerk. In the last four months of her life she lived at Chapel Ridge Nursing Home in Fort Smith. At her sixtieth jubilee Sister Anne Michele said, “I have been blessed and challenged to a greater awareness of God and my calling to be of service,” and was fired by that passion for more than ninety years.

Sister Anne Michele is survived by three brothers: James John, Paragould, AR; Joseph Ronald, Tularosa, NM; and Howard Thomas, Atlanta, GA. Preceding her in death are her parents; and four sisters: Pauline Raley, Anna Loretta Raley, Francine Raley Hayden, and Virginia Raley Mullins.

Vespers for the Dead were held March 12, 2017 in the Monastery Chapel. The funeral Mass was celebrated March 13, 2017 with Fr. Les Farley presiding, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.Donate In Sr. Anne Michele Raley’s Memory
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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.

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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