Sister Barbara one of five siblings to join Benedictines

Published: January 8, 2021

Sister Barbara Schroeder, OSB, a Benedictine sister at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith for 73 years, died Dec. 27 of complications after a recent stroke. She was 91.

She was born April 21, 1929, to Bernard T. and Sophia Humpert Schroeder in Windthorst, Texas. Her family had a history of following the Benedictine religious life. Her aunt was a sister at St. Scholastica in Fort Smith and her uncle was a monk at Subiaco Abbey. After she entered St. Scholastica, three of her sisters also came to St. Scholastica: Marietta, Stephanie and Regina. One brother, Leonard, became a monk at Subiaco Abbey, according to a 2017 Arkansas Catholic article celebrating her 70th jubilee.

Sister Barbara received her bachelor’s degree in applied science from Avila College and taught for 57 years in Arkansas and Texas. In retirement, she assisted in the monastery diet kitchen and library. She was a pastoral minister for several years at St. John Church in Russellville.

She is survived by three brothers, George Schroeder of Leominister, Mass., Bernard Schroeder of Shawnee, Kan., and Raymond Schroeder of Kansas City, Mo.; and three sisters, Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB, and Sister Regina Schroeder, OSB, both of Fort Smith, and Mary Rose Lehmann of St. Louis.

A memorial service will be held later.