Sr. Fidelis Marie made her monastic profession on October 3, 1959 and her ministry was care of the sick. As a nurse, she worked in various hospitals. Her medical career also involved teaching and administration. Following her retirement from nursing she was prolific artistically in both fine china painting and calligraphy.
She is survived by a sister, Mary Ebster of Redding, CA; a brother, Sam Garafalo of North Syracuse, NY, and her sisters in community.
Sr. Beck made her final profession on June 24, 1932 and had an illustrious career in nursing, here in the monastery Infirmary, in a number of our hospitals, and also in Chicago. She particularly enjoyed working with newborns. Her career also included time at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Little Rock in the Pastoral Care Department. After retiring from hospital work, Sr. Emerita served the community as sub-prioress for eight years.
She is survived by three sisters-in-law, Marie, Frances, and Catherine Beck; many nieces and nephews; and her sisters in community.
Sr. Camilla made her religious profession June 24, 1924 and at the time of her death had been in vows longer than any of our other living members.
She spent most of her years as a housekeeper for our teaching sisters on missions. She enjoyed reading and visiting with her community members.
Sr. Camilla is survived by a sister, Margaret Beshoner of Scranton, and the sisters in her religious community.
After making her religious profession, Sr. Bede taught in Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas for 32 years. During this time she taught all levels: primary, junior high, senior high and college. From 1986 to 1993 she worked in the Pastoral Care Department of Saint Vincent Infirmary Medical Center in Little Rock.
In addition to her fine teaching skills, Sr. Bede was an accomplished poet, and had a keen interest in observing nature.
She is survived by one sister, Sister Christine Eckart of St. Scholastica Monastery; and one brother, Father Placidus Eckart of Subiaco Abbey; numerous nieces and nephews; and her sisters in community.
Sr. Rosetta made her profession on June 24, 1940, and was active in community for sixty-five years. She was a teacher for most of her life, teaching in many parishes in the state of Arkansas. Once Sr. Rosetta retired from teaching, she assumed a variety duties at the monastery. She served in various capacities in our dining room, and especially enjoyed helping the sisters look their best by setting and combing out hair. She worked in both these duties until quite recently, when she became ill.
She is survived by three sisters, Marie LaBrie of Culver City, CA; Madeline Whitney of Portland, Maine, and Rosetta Fulmer of Greenbrier, AR; and one brother, Clemens Kuettel of Center Ridge, numerous nieces and nephews, and her sisters in community.
Sr. Mary Ruth Wewers was a devoted teacher for 41 years. For the last 24 years she taught at the St. Boniface Catholic Church Elementary School. She returned to St. Scholastica Monastery with profession on June 24, 2005, moving into our Infirmary area.
A member of a very large and loving family, she is survived by seven sisters: Sr. Adrian Wewers of St. Scholastica Monastery, Mary Edelhuber of Paris, Benita Siebenmorgen of Morrisons Bluff, Wilma Ahlert & Debbie Bentley of Fort Smith, Sarah Wewers of New Orleans, Pat Reid of Guthrie, OK, and two brothers, Joe & Harold Wewers of Fort Smith. She is also survived by the sisters of her religious community and numerous nieces and nephews.
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.
