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Sister Stephanie Schroeder was lifelong learner

Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB, a sister at St. Scholastica Monastery, died Dec. 7.

Published: February 9, 2024   

By Arkansas Catholic Staff

Courtesy St. Scholastica Monastery

Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB, a sister at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith for 66 years, died Dec. 7. She was 91.

Courtesy St. Scholastica Monastery

Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB, a sister at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith for 66 years, died Dec. 7. She was 91.

Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB, a sister at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith for 66 years, died Dec. 7. She was 91. 

Born Sept. 25, 1932, in Windthorst, Texas to Ben and Sophia Humpert Schroeder, she was named Florentine Lucy. Sister Stephanie entered St. Scholastica Monastery as a candidate Aug. 29, 1951, joining her sister, Sister Marietta. Sister Stephanie made her final profession June 24, 1957. 

Sister Stephanie was gifted in teaching and providing spiritual direction. She taught in several cities across Arkansas, as well as Missouri. She served as the vocation director at St. Scholastica Monastery from 1989 to 2002. 

Sister Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree from Avila College in Kansas City, Mo., in 1970 and her master’s degree in pastoral arts and liturgy from Loyola University in Chicago in 1979. Sister Stephanie was a lifelong learner, completing several trainings, seminars and programs in order to better serve her community and Church. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Clarence Schroeder, Elmer Schroeder, Raymond Schroeder, Brother Leonard Schroeder, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey, and Sister Marietta Schroeder, OSB. She is survived by two sisters, Sister Regina Schroeder, OSB and Mary Rose Schroeder, and her husband, Bob Lehmann; two brothers, George and his wife Ann Schroeder; and Bernard and his wife Emily Schroeder, her sister-in-law, Anita Schroeder; and many nieces and nephews.

A vespers service will be held at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 28. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 29 with Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, as presider and chaplain Father Joseph Chan 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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