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Sister Pierre Vorster, OSB

Sister Pierre Vorster, OSB, age 101, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery, died at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, after a brief illness on March 22, 2023. Catherine Marie Vorster was born on March 18, 1922, in Subiaco, Arkansas, to Dan and Agatha Kruse Vorster. She was dedicated to her family and loved them deeply. She grew up in the shadow of Subiaco Abbey.

Before entering St. Scholastica Monastery, she developed a love for politics and history, both of which she attributed to her father. After completing her elementary grades at St. Benedict School in Subiaco, Catherine entered the monastery on September 2, 1937, and became a novice on June 24, 1938, when she took the name, Sister Mary Pierre. On June 24, 1940, she made her first profession, and in 1943 she made her perpetual profession as a member of St. Scholastica Monastery.

Sister Pierre earned her degree in Biology and Chemistry Education in 1962 from Mount Saint Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. She completed her Masters in Education Administration with a minor in Biology from Creighton, University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1968.

A dedicated teacher for thirty-two years, she taught at St. Scholastica in Shoal Creek, Holy Redeemer in Clarksville, St. Augustine in Dardanelle, St. Edward in Little Rock, St. Boniface, St. John, and St. Anne in Fort Smith, St. Mary in Hattieville, Arkansas and St. Pius X in Moberly, Missouri. She was an excellent teacher, projecting a formidable, no-nonsense attitude.

Beneath the strong exterior was a tender, compassionate heart. During her time as an educator, she earned many awards. In 1956, she received the Pelican Award, a Catholic Boy Scout award, from the Bishop of Little Rock, and later the first Marian Award for Girl Scouts. She earned recognition as the Outstanding Biology Teacher in Arkansas in 1971. In 1972, she was awarded the Dogwood Medal of Honor and the Citation Plaque for her contribution to education in 1973 for history, citizenship, and love of country. She was also named Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Sister Pierre was also involved in many public issues outside the field of education, especially in areas of the environment, conservation, and elder care. She was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council for the Elderly under three different governors, Bill Clinton, Jim Guy Tucker, and Mike Huckabee. She worked tirelessly for the needs of the elderly and was recognized for her efforts. She was a member of the Arkansas-Oklahoma River Compact Commission from 1980-1992. In 1969, she received the Ruth Thomas Audubon Scholarship. Other awards included the Public Awareness Award, Outstanding Volunteer Award for Adult and Adult Services, Capital Citations from the State of Arkansas, and induction into the Arkansas Senior Hall of Fame.

In 1995, she received the first ever Annual Arkansas Volunteer of the Year Award, now known as the Sister Pierre Vorster Volunteer Award. She received the President’s Call to Service award begun by President George W. Bush. She was active in the Audubon Society, Western Arkansas Area Agency on Aging, and Project Compassion. She served her monastic community as director of St. Scholastica Education Center, activity director for the Monastery Infirmary, editor of the monastery publication Horizons, and for twenty-five years as supervisor of the monastery grounds.

She loved nature and history and enjoyed playing cards, dominoes, and ‘Five–Up’. She took delight in an occasional Arby’s roast beef sandwich and a scoop of peppermint ice cream. She was proud of her German heritage and family. Her hometown in Subiaco, all of Logan County, and the community of St. Scholastica were quite dear to her. No one matched her style and ability. She has truly been a pillar of St. Scholastica Monastery, rooted both here and at Subiaco Abbey.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Joseph Daniel Vorster, William August Vorster, Frank Bernard Vorster, and Mary Ann Altenhofel. She is survived by her sister, Bridget Weisenfels, and sister-in-law, Martha Vorster; many beloved nieces and nephews, great nephews and nieces; and the members of her Benedictine community.

Vespers Service will be on April 21, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be on April 22, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Jerome Kodell, OSB, Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, and Rev. Reginald Udouj, OSB presiding. Both services will be at St. Scholastica Monastery. Burial will follow in St. Scholastica’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.

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Sr. Stephanie Schroeder OSB

Sr. Stephanie Schroeder, age 91, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery, died December 7, 2023, at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Sr.  Stephanie was born September 25, 1932, in Windthorst, Texas, to Ben and Sophia Humpert Schroeder and she was named Florentine Lucy.  She was the fifth child of eleven born to the Schroeder family.  Sr. Stephanie entered St. Scholastica Monastery as a candidate on August 29, 1951, joining her sisters, Sr. Barbara and Sr. Marietta, as a Benedictine.  She was given the name Mary Stephen but later changed her name to Stephanie. Following her novitiate, Sister Stephanie made her first profession on June 24, 1954, and her final profession on June 24, 1957.  Sister Stephanie was gifted in teaching and providing spiritual direction. She loved parish ministry. She spent many years as the liturgist for the monastic community. Her love of the liturgy was a part of her life until God called her home to life eternal.   Her ministry as a teacher took her to Paris, Atkins, Fort Smith, Russellville, Brinkley, Rogers, and Clarksville in Arkansas, and Moberly and Lebanon in Missouri for many years. In Springfield, Missouri, she taught for two years, then became a Pastoral Minister and Director of Religious Education.  Sister Stephanie was Vocation Director from 1989 to 2002. She was the Liturgist and Sacristan for thirty-five years at the monastery. She accompanied people as a certified spiritual director.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1970 and her Master of Pastoral Arts and Liturgy from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, in 1979.  Sister Stephanie continued learning throughout her life in many programs, including The Institute for Retreats and Pastoral Ministry,  Formation in Ministry of Monastic Spiritual Direction, Healing Trauma, Gifts of Prayer and Spiritual Direction, Understanding Teens, Parent Effectiveness Training, RCIA for Catechumens, and Benedictine Conferences for Vocations and Formation.

Sister Stephanie was known for making delicious coconut cakes, snacking on raisins and fig newtons, and tending to the monastery rose garden. Her hobbies included crocheting, listening to classical music and symphonies, and playing various card games. Sr. Stephanie was a gentle, creative, and approachable person. She loved taking quiet walks in nature and possessed a lovely singing voice.  She truly knew what it meant to live the Benedictine life as she often guided souls in discernment for their life call and as a spiritual director. She was dedicated to her family, faithfully keeping in touch with family and friends through letter-writing and telephone calls.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Clarence Schroeder, Elmer Schroeder, Raymond Schroeder,  Brother Leonard Schroeder, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey, and Sisters Barbara Schroeder and Marietta Schroeder, OSB.  She is survived by her sisters, Sister Regina Schroeder, OSB and Mary Rose (Schroeder), and her husband, Bob  Lehmann; her brothers,  George and his wife Ann Schroeder;  Bernard and his wife Emily Schroeder, her sister-in-law, Anita Schroeder; many beloved nieces and nephews and the members of her Benedictine family.   A Vespers Service will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., with Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, as presider and Fr. Joseph Chan, chaplain, as concelebrant. Both services will be at St. Scholastica Monastery Chapel, with interment in St. Scholastica Cemetery Columbarium at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

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Sr. Andrea Loran OSB

Sister Andrea Loran, age 96, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery, died July 13, 2023, at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Sister Andrea was born August 26, 1926, in Rhineland, Texas, to Liberatus and
Bertha Strubel Loran, and was named Helen. She was the eighth child of eleven born to the Loran family.

Sister Andrea entered St. Scholastica Monastery as a candidate on September 2, 1940, joining her sister, Sister Martha, as a Benedictine. Following her novitiate in 1947, Sister Andrea made her first profession on June 24, 1949, and her final profession on June 24, 1952. 


Sister Andrea was gifted in hospitality, nurturing both body and soul in the culinary fields. She ministered in Paris, Fort Smith, North Little Rock, Clarksville, and Shoal Creek, Arkansas. She served in the dietary departments of two hospitals in Moberly and Booneville,
Missouri, for eight years.

In 1997 she served as a core team member of Hesychia House of Prayer, in New Blaine, Arkansas, until her retirement in 2009.


She attended Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri, in dietetics and food service. As long as she was able, Sister Andrea enjoyed cooking and tending to flower gardens. She loved to read a variety of authors and topics. She was a hard worker and made tasks seem effortless.
Sister Andrea was a gentle and approachable person with an infectious laugh. She truly knew what it meant to live Benedictine Hospitality.

She was dedicated to her family, faithfully keeping in touch with family and friends through
letter-writing and telephone calls. The Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery thank Sister Andrea’s caregivers at St. Scholastica’s and at Chapel
Ridge Health & Rehab for their loving care for her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Ralph Andrew, and wife, Bonnie Loran, Sr. Martha Loran, OSB, of St. Scholastica, Fidelis (Slim) and wife Agnes Rose (Redder) Loran, Monica and husband Troy Myers, Mary and husband, Alphonse Kuehler, Daniel Loran,
Roselia and husband Roy Pokorny, Ruth Loran, Jeanette, and Marvin Zeissel, and Vincent (Brother Eric) Loran, OSB of Subiaco Abbey. She is survived by her many beloved nieces and nephews and members of her Benedictine
family.


A Vespers Service will be held Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. The Mass for Christian Burial will be Friday, July 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., with Fr. Leslie Farley, as presider, and Fr. Joseph Chan, chaplain, as concelebrant. Both services will be at St. Scholastica Monastery Chapel, with
burial in St. Scholastica Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St.
Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913-3489.