Sister Herman Joseph Berkemeyer was born October 11, 1910, made monastic professon on June 24, 1931, and died on December 9, 2005.

She was a native of St. Vincent, AR. Sister earned her B.S.E. from Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, TX, and taught primary grades for 35 years. Of these, 17 were spent at St. Joseph Orphanage, North Little Rock, and 24 years in the Nazareth Independent School System, Nazareth, TX.

In her free time she loved to bake cookies and care for house plants, but her special treat was playing cards with her family, friend, and the Sisters, just any willing person.

Survivors include eight sisters, Sister Anita Berkemeyer of St. Scholastica, Marie Beck of Fort Smith, Louise Sponer of Hatieville, Rita Rehm of Perry, Helen Ward, Marilyn Riedmueller, and Pat Stout of Morillton, and Paula Patton of North Little Rock, three brothers, Herman of Lake Village, John of Atkins, and Raymond of Morillton, and an extended family.

Sr. Clara Marie made her religious profession June 24, 1950, and subsequently served in a variety of capacities. She was at Subiaco Abbey for many years, and later while serving in Paris, AR she visited hospital patients and nursing home residents. Sr. Clara Marie managed the Retreat Center kitchen, and also was a co-founder of the Center Bakery. Her tasty breads and delicious pies were special ordered by area residents, and Trinity students consumed dozens of cookies weekly.

She is survived by four sisters: Lorene Jansen, Mildred Komp, Leona Komp, all of Fort Smith, and Madonna Komp of Charleston; one brother, Phillip Komp of Wichita Falls, Texas; and also by sisters of her religious community in Fort Smith, AR.

Sr. Simon entered St. Scholastica in 1940 and made her religious profession on June 24, 1943. Her first ministry assignment was as an office worker at the Clarksville Hospital. She earned an art degree and a teaching degree, taught for 30 years, and was in community for 62 years. She was particularly gifted as a water colorist and enjoyed writing poetry.

In addition to the Clarksville assignment, Sr. Simon taught in Stuttgart, Charleston, Russellville, Subiaco, Fort Smith and Barling. After retiring from teaching, she was sacristan for 12 years at the monastery. Later she lived in Fayetteville and then in Subiaco as a companion to sisters working in those locations. For the last several years, Sr. Simon had resided in our Infirmary.

She is survived by two sisters, Gertrude Lawler of Santa Fe, N.M., and Katherine Pendleton of Washington, IN; and a brother, Alois Edelhuber of Paris, AR. In addition to many nieces and nephews, she is also survived by her Sisters in community.

Sr. Maurine came to St. Scholastica as a high school student, and made her religious profession of faith on June 24, 1936. She taught elementary school for a total of 49 years in Arkansas and Texas, and earned a BSE in Education.

After retiring from teaching in 1985, she did parish work in Kansas City, then in Little Rock. Once she returned to the monastery, she had a variety of assignments. Sr. Maurine worked in the laundry, was sacristan, and faithfully rang the Angelus Bells each day. She also had dining room duties and made coffee for all our meals. For eleven years she held the position of assistant Oblate Director. She regularly visited nursing homes, entertaining the residents with her fine harmonica playing.

Sr. Maurine is survived by one sister, Agnes Warren of Woodward, OK; two brothers, Alvin Schmucker of Hereford, TX, and Arnold Schmucker of Tucson, AZ; several nieces and nephews, and members of her religious community.

Sr. Teresina was born in Tontitown, Arkansas on April 12, 1915 and was baptised Agnes Cecilia Lazzari by her parents Joseph and Josephine Lazzari. She made her Religious Profession June 24, 1938.

A dedicated teacher, she received a bachelor’s degree in education from Avila College in Kansas City and taught at St. John’s and St. Boniface in Fort Smith, St. John’s in Brinkley, Arkansas, St. Pius X in Moberly, Missouri, St. Joseph in Fayetteville, Arkansas, St. Benedict in Subiaco, Arkansas, St. Joseph’s in Tontitown, Arkansas and Amarillo, Texas, and Paris, Arkansas. She retired back home to St. Scholastica Monastery in June, 1987.

She is survived by a brother, James Lazzari of Hood River, Oregon.

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.

Sister Norbert was born in Nazareth, Texas on March 5, 1914, to Henry and Elizabeth Hoelting. She entered St. Scholastica Convent in 1928; received her State Elementary teaching certificate in 1939; earned a B.A. in Spanish from Mount Mercy College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1944; and earned an M.A. in Religion from Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana in 1956.

Sister Norbert taught twenty-six years in Arkansas Catholic schools. Thirteen of those years were spent at St. Scholastica Academy, where she served as teacher, prefect, and principal.

She served the monastic community as formation director from 1959-67 and 1993-96. She was elected prioress on December 28, 1976, serving a four-year term.

During her career, Sister Norbert also worked at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; at St. Michael Indian School in Arizona; and as administrator of St. Joseph Home in North Little Rock.

For the past twelve years, Sister Norbert taught Scripture and Patristics to new community members, assisted as receptionist in the monastery office, and served on several committees.

Vespers was 7:30 p.m. March 9 at St. Scholastica  Monastery.  Her Funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. March 10 at St. Scholastica Monastery.

Sister Norbert is survived by a brother, Norbert Hoelting and his wife Mary of Olpe, Kansas, and two sisters-in-law, Tina Hoelting of Nazareth, Texas, and Maurine Hoelting of California, numerous nieces and nephews; and the members of her monastic community.

Her nieces and nephews served as pallbearers.Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.Donate In Sr. Norbert Hoelting’s Memory
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Sister Anita Berkemeyer, OSB, 90, of Fort Smith passed away Friday, June 26, 2009 in St. Scholastica Monastery. She was born November 7, 1918 in Atkins, Arkansas to Clemence and Mary Elizabeth Berkemeyer. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas in 1963 and taught elementary school for over 40 years at Sacred Heart School, Charleston; St. Edward School, Little Rock; St. Benedict School, Subiaco; Sts. Peter and Paul School, Morrison Bluff; St. Joseph School, Fayetteville; St. Gabriel School, Kansas City; St. Vincent de Paul School, Rogers; St. Teresa School, Little Rock; and the Nazareth, Texas public schools. After her retirement from teaching in 1987, she served as the monastery’s Oblate Director and ministered to the sick and shut-ins at St. Joseph Church, Paris.

Sister Anita loved acting, singing and dancing and enjoyed performing in monastery skits.  She was also a self-taught accomplished hair stylist.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Carl and Bernard Berkemeyer and Sister Herman Joseph Berkemeyer.

Vespers were held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2009 at St. Scholastica Monastery. Her funeral Mass was held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 in the Monastery Chapel.  She was buried in St. Scholastica Cemetery.

She is survived by three brothers: Herman Berkemeyer of Lake Village, Arkansas; Raymond Berkemeyer of Morrilton, Arkansas; and John Berkemeyer of Atkins, Arkansas; seven sisters: Marie Beck of Conway, Arkansas; Louise Sponer of Hattieville, Arkansas; Rita Rehm of Perry, Arkansas; Helen Ward of Morrilton, Arkansas; Paula Patton of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Marilyn Riedmueller of Morrilton, Arkansas; Pat Stout of Morrilton, Arkansas; several nieces and nephews and her Religious Community.

Her nieces and nephews served as pallbearers.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.Donate In Sr. Anita Berkemeyer’s Memory
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Sister Adelma Pabst, OSB, who was a radiological and medical technician for 40 years, entered into eternal life on July 20, 2009 at the age of 87, at St. Scholastica Monastery. She was born on January 27, 1922 in Pleasant Green, Missouri to Aloysius and Wilhelmine Pabst.  She entered St. Scholastica Convent on August 31, 1938 and made her monastic profession on June 24, 1941.  She became certified as a radiologic technologist in 1946 and was a member of American Society of Radiologic Technologists. She attended Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas and became certified as a laboratory technologist in 1961.  During her career, she worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Boonville, Missouri; Municipal Hospital, Clarksville; St. Vincent’s Infirmary, Little Rock; St. Mary’s Hospital, Dermott; and Conway County Hospital, Morillton.  After retiring from hospital work, she worked in St. Scholastica Infirmary from 1975-1982 and in the monastery gift shop from 1982-84.

After receiving her Pastoral Care certificate in 1986, she worked in counseling at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Conway County Hospital.  Even after her retirement she continued to volunteer in the general office.

Sister Adelma  is survived by two brothers, Robert Pabst, Texas; and John Pabst, Missouri; one sister, Dolores Krewet, Festus, Missouri; nieces and nephews and the members of her monastic community.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. David McKillin, chaplain, in the monastery chapel on July 23, followed by interment in the monastery cemetery. Her nephews and caregivers from St. Scholastica Infirmary served as pallbearers.

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