Sister Frances Schumacher

Sister Francis (Jennie) Schumacher of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD, died on September 7,2023, at the Village of Harmony Hill in Watertown, SD at the age of 83.  . Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Mother of God Monastery in Watertown.  Father John Lantsberger as the Celebrant.  Burial will be at Mother of God Monastery Cemetery in Watertown.

She was born on March 31, 1940, near Halliday, ND to Frank and Magdelena (Fleckenstein) Schumacher,the sixth child of twelve children. S. Francis was raised on the family farm where she learned how tocare for animals, garden, sew and cook. These years inspired an enormous creativity in Sr. Francis which she used and honed throughout her life.

She attended country school near her home and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Richardton,ND in 1958. She went on to study at Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD for a year. Later she worked as a telephone operator for a year before she entered the Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, SD. There she attended Mount Marty College and received a degree in Medical Technology.

On June 15, 1961, S. Francis became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery in Pierre, SD. She made her final vows in June 1967.

She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD as Lab Director for 18 years. After leaving St. Mary’s she worked at Q& R Clinic in Bismarck, ND for 7 years. Then she worked as Residence Care Coordinator at Marillac Manor in Bismarck for several years before returning to the Monastery in Watertown, SD.

S. Francis served the Monastery community as Formation Director, Assistant Prioress, Volunteer and Hospitality Director. She served as Monastery representative of CHI (Catholic Health Corporation) attending meetings nationally and internationally.

S. Francis was a very talented, artistic, creative person who turned almost every space she entered into a place of beauty. She was a great calligrapher who used her talents to create beautiful banners and greeting cards.

She loved sports and helped to create the hospital baseball team in Pierre. She was a good pinochle player; she was always positive and helped to cheer up those around her and she kept close contact with friends, family, nieces, nephews, cousins.

She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. She especially enjoyed trips back home to spend time with family and friends.

S. Francis was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Threase, Eva, and Diane; and her brother, Jim. She is survived by her sisters, Ann, S. Johanna (Helen), Marilyn, Charlotte, and Judith, and her brothers, Tony and Duane, and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and the Sisters of Mother of God Monastery.

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