Category: 2024

July 5. 1920 – July 29, 2024

Sister Marcella Schmalz, age 104, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery, died July 29, 2024, at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Sister Marcella was born July 5, 1920, in Carbon City, Arkansas, to Ed and Helen Agnes Blunk Schmalz. She was named Marcella Carolina. During her teen years, she moved to California where two of her sisters lived and worked. While there, she became a beautician, but the call to religious life she had felt since she was eight years old never left. Sister Marcella heeded the call and entered St. Scholastica as a candidate on August 11, 1943. She was given the name Mary Benoit and made her first profession June 24, 1946. She made her final profession on June 24, 1949.

During her years of mission work, her work centered mostly around cooking and the diet kitchen. She lived out her calling as a Benedictine in different areas of Arkansas and Missouri, including Lake Village, Atkins, St. Joseph’s Orphanage, the Bishop’s residence in Little Rock, the hospital in Van Buren in Arkansas and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Boonville, Missouri. In 1971, she moved to Canyon, Texas, where she became a founding member of St. Scholastica’s daughter house, St.

Benedict’s Monastery. Sister Marcella contributed forty-six years to the work of the Benedictines in Texas. In Canyon, she served as vocation and oblate director, subprioress, cook-dietician, organist, and gardener. At St. Anthony’s Hospital in Amarillo, she served in pastoral care. After the closure of St. Benedict’s Monastery in 2017, Sister Marcella returned home to St. Scholastica.

Sister Marcella’s deep monastic spirituality, hospitable spirit, and peaceful presence endeared her to her community members and the people of Canyon.  She was a wonderful cook and bread maker and hardworking gardener.  A fall in the garden caused serious damage to her right wrist and hand.  Despite surgeries and much therapy, she was never able to regain use of her right hand.  She worked hard to learn to use her left hand and continued her usual duties. The only change was that she needed more help.

Her 100th birthday was in the Covid year of 2020, so her party was an internal community event.  On July 5 this year, 23 days before her death, the community and staff at Chapel Ridge had a big party with the Sisters, friends, and residents at Chapel Ridge. She greatly enjoyed celebrating with everyone.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Alice Schrivner and husband, Dave; Hilda Nehus and husband, Gary; Irene Upchurch and husband, Carl; Roy Schmalz and wife, Mary; Estella Etzkorn and husband, Albert. She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews and the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica.

 A Vesper Service will be at 7:30 p.m. on September 19 and a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on September 20 with Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, presiding.  All services will take place at St. Scholastica Monastery.  Interment of her cremains in St. Scholastica’s new columbarium will be at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery’s Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.

Sister Adrian Wewers, age 95, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, died August 16, 2024, at Ashton Place Manor in Barling, Arkansas. Sister Adrian was born November 25, 1928, in Morrison Bluff, Arkansas, and named Hedwig Ann. She entered the monastery in 1945, joining her aunt, Sister Benita Wewers. She became a novice on June 24, 1946, when she was given the name Sister Adrian. She made temporary profession in 1948 and
final profession in 1952.

Sister Adrian’s first desire was to be a nurse but was told there was a greater need for teachers. She received her degree in elementary education from St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kansas. Sister Adrian taught primary grades in Dardanelle, Barling, Russellville, Paris, and St. Joseph Home in North Little Rock in Arkansas, in Pilot Grove, Missouri, and in Nazareth, Texas for 36 years. She taught in Nazareth for 21 years. Sister Adrian said the most challenging and joyful part of teaching was preparing her students for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Wherever she taught, she loved her students, and her students loved her.

After retiring from teaching, Sister Adrian lived at the monastery where she drove Sisters to their appointments and helped wherever needed.

Sister Adrian was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Arkansas Razorbacks and enjoyed watching movies with the community. She faithfully kept in contact with her family and friends and loved spending time with her family. In her later years, she spent much time praying and reading the Bible, developing a close personal relationship with Jesus.

Sister Adrian was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Stephanie Seiter Wewers; her birth mother, Anna Lensing Wewers, who died in childbirth; her sisters, Benita Siebenmorgen and husband, Tony; and Sister Mary Ruth Wewers; her brothers, Joe Wewers and Harold Wewers; and her brothers-in-law, Herbert Stengel, Bill Edelhuber, Ray Ahlert and Pat Bentley.

She is survived by her sisters, Mary Edelhuber , Wilma Ahlert; Sarah Wewers; Patricia Reid and husband John; and Debbie Bentley; her beloved nieces and nephews; her Benedictine Sisters; and many former students.

A Vesper Service will be at 7:30 p.m. on August 30, 2024, and a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on August 31, 2024, with Father Joseph Chan as presider. Burial will follow in St. Scholastica Monastery Cemetery. Her nephews will be the pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery’s Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.