Sr. Mary Archangela Schleer

Sister Mary Angela Schleer of the Holy Face, age 92, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2009 in the SSM Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh. On June 28, 1917 she was born Rosina Schleer in Ittenlofen Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of Michael and Ealburga (Schlief) Schleer. She was 12th out of 15 children and grew up on the family farm. Three of the children died in infancy. Her father died in 1954 and her mother died in 1965. Sister was also preceded in death by her brothers: Lawrence and Justin and two of her sister: Regina and Theresa. Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother on March 19, 1948. She was one of five sisters to enter the convent. They were: Sisters Mary Aquila, Mary Mercede, Mary Leonida and Mary Luciana all of whom are deceased. Sister was invested on August 12, 1948 in Abenberg, Germany and came to the United States in September, 1949. She professed her final vows on August 12, 1955 in the Motherhouse in Milwaukee and celebrated her Golden Jubilee in Oklahoma in 1999. She devoted her many years from 1950 to 1978 in the diet kitchens of St. Joseph Hospital in Marshfield; St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander and St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS. In 1978 Sister took courses in Pastoral Care and became a Pastoral Associate in St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita. She devoted herself with patients and she also served as sacristan. One of Sister's greatest joys came in September, 1987 when she was invited by James Stump, a seminarian at the Capuchin House of Studies and the son of a very dear friend, to be present when Pope John Paul II visited the United States. She had the privilege to attend the Meeting on Religious Life at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on September 12, 1987. She was delighted that she was seated very near the front and shook hands with the Holy Father and he traced a cross on her forehead. It was an unforgettable experience for her. Sister retired to the Our Lady of Sorrows in Broken Arrow, OK in 1988 and then to the Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh in June, 2005. Much of her enjoyment came from garden work. She loved landscaping and caring for the flowers and schrubbery on the grounds of the hospitals where she served. Although Sister Mary Archangela was small in stature, she was full of energy. She often said to be feisty, but she had a smile for anyone who stopped and spoke with her. It was a sad day to say good-bye to one who made such a lasting impression on all of us. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2009 in the Chapel of the Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh with Rev. William Kuhr as celebrant. Burial followed in Riverside Cemetery. Fiss & Bills Funeral Home 865 S. Westhaven Dr. 920-235-1170