Centenarian impacted education, environment, elder care

Sister Pierre Vorster, a Benedictine for 83 years, died March 22 at age 101

Sister Pierre Vorster, OSB, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith for 83 years, died March 22 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith after a brief illness. She was 101.

Catherine Marie Vorster was born on March 18, 1922, in Subiaco to Dan and Agatha Kruse Vorster. She grew up in the shadow of Subiaco Abbey. Before entering St. Scholastica Monastery, she developed a love for politics and history that she attributed to her father.

After completing elementary school at St. Benedict School in Subiaco, she entered the monastery Sept. 2, 1937, and became a novice on June 24, 1938, when she took the name Sister Mary Pierre.

When she was 18 years old, on June 24, 1940, she made her first profession, and in 1943 she made her perpetual profession as a Benedictine nun.

Sister Pierre earned her degree in biology and chemistry education in 1962 from Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kan. She completed her master’s degree in educational administration with a minor in biology from Creighton University in Omaha in 1968.

She taught for 32 years 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 and St. Pius X in Moberly, Mo. 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 in 1973 for her contribution to education 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 of education, including the environment, conservation and elder care. She was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council for the Elderly under Govs. 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.

She was active in the Audubon Society, Western Arkansas Area Agency on Aging and Project Compassion.

In 1995, she received the first-ever 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 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 25 years as supervisor of the monastery grounds.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and four siblings, Joseph Daniel Vorster, William August Vorster, Frank Bernard Vorster and Mary Ann Altenhofel. She is survived by one sister, Bridget Weisenfels; and one sister-in-law, Martha Vorster.

The funeral Mass was April 22 at St. Scholastica Monastery with Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, and Father Reginald Udouj, OSB, presiding. Burial followed in St. Scholastica cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.

---

Please read our Comments Policy before posting.

Article comments powered by Disqus