Category: 2018

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
via secure PayPal

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
via secure PayPal

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
via secure PayPal