In Memoriam: Sister Andriette Schommer, OSB
“May Christ bring us all together to everlasting life.” Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 72.12
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Sister Andriette (Irene) Schommer, OSB entered peacefully into eternal life, fulfilling her baptismal call on December 23, 2023. She was 94 years old, having lived her monastic profession for 74 years. She was born on November 29, 1929, in Munich, North Dakota, the fifth child of Henry and Tecla (Haus) Schommer. The family moved to Jordan, Minnesota, where she was raised in a family with two brothers and six sisters, including her identical twin sister, Sister Andrine. She was confirmed at St. John’s Church in Jordan on October 6, 1940, and graduated from St. Benedict’s Academy in St. Joseph in May 1947.
She entered the novitiate at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, MN on June 16, 1948. As a novice she chose to become a member of St. Paul’s Monastery where she made her first monastic profession on July 11, 1949, and perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 1952.
Sister Andriette graduated from the Diocesan Teachers’ College (DTC) in 1950 and continued her education at St. Catherine University, earning a degree in English and Education in 1959. She loved to teach young children and taught first grade at St. Bernard’s in St. Paul from 1950-1955. She taught first, second, and third grades at other Catholic schools over the years: St. Hubert’s in Chanhassen, 1955-1957; Visitation in Minneapolis, 1957-1964; St. Boniface in St. Bonifacius, 1964-1969, and Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale, 1969-1992.
In 1992, she retired from four decades of teaching and served as an aide with the infants at Maple Tree Childcare Center, on the campus of St. Paul’s Monastery in Maplewood. She loved taking care of the precious babies who grew to be happy toddlers and preschoolers. The children from Maple Tree often entertained the Sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery with parades and songs which Sister Andriette greatly enjoyed. She also loved watching the Minnesota Twins, working on jigsaw puzzles and playing cards.
A woman of strong faith, Sister Andriette was especially devoted to praying the rosary. She was often found with Sister Andrine in the Monastery’s adoration chapel.
Sister Andriette was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Tecla, her siblings, Edwin, Stella (Cola), Sister Rosella Schommer, OSB; Frances (Sorenson), and Mark. She is survived by her beloved twin, Sister Andrine Schommer, OSB, of St. Paul’s Monastery, sisters: Isabelle (Beth), and Lois (Kohout), brother-in-law Arvid (Spike) Sorenson, sister-in-law Sherry Schommer, nieces and nephews, her Benedictine Sisters, Oblates and Associates.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:30 p.m. January 2, 2024, at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held January 3, 2024, 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery. Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed on Facebook and linked on St. Paul’s Monastery website. Interment is at the Monastery cemetery. Memorials preferred to St. Paul’s Monastery.
Community of St. Paul’s Monastery Sisters, Oblates, and Benedictine Associates
Sister Catherine Nehotte, OSB, Prioress
St. Paul, Minnesota
Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict