Additional Sisters Contributing to Science & Education

Arsenia (Mary) Knaus 1885 -1966

Sister Arsenia (Mary) Knaus was born July 7, 1885, to Martin and Elizabeth (Backes) in Cold Spring, Minnesota. She entered the community in 1906. In 1936, she received her B.A. in biology at the College of St. Benedict and remained at St. Benedict’s her entire career. She taught needlework, not science for over 50 years, becoming an expert in hardanger, a Norwegian type of embroidery that uses geometric style. Her work was received at the Minnesota Historical Society. Her classes were very popular and would only take seniors due to the popularity.

Henrita (Annette) Osendorf 1906-1992

Sister Henrita (Annette) Osendorf was born on August 22, 1906, in Richmond, MN to Henry and Anna (Schmitz). She was influenced early on by her grandfather who lived with her family and his devotion to prayer and often accompanied him to Mass. 

Sister Henrita had been a teacher at Pierz and Cold Spring High School before she earned a master's degree in library science and worked for five years at the College of Saint Benedict teaching and setting up the library. She received her B.A. in biology in 1936, but never really returned to the sciences. From 1943 to 1960 she directed the community novitiate.  For one year she was community subprioress before her election in 1961 as prioress. She helped to lead the community through changes with Vatican II. During her twelve-year tenure,  she exerted much influence both within and without the community as she dealt with individual religious, chaired boards of several institutions, and led the community through the changes brought about by Vatican II.  She provided guidance on the growth of two foreign missions in Taiwan and Japan. For some time she did spiritual direction and directed retreats.  She retired to St. Scholastica Convent in 1989. 

Mechtilde (Helen) Schmieg 1898-1985

Sister Mechtilde (Helen) Schmieg was born April 9, 1898, to John and Teresia (Timmers) in Victoria, Minnesota. She entered the community in 1912, beginning her teaching career in 1916. In 1939, she received her B.A. in biology at the College of St. Benedict as she continued to teach throughout Minnesota. For six years she was superior at St. Joseph's Home and then was a community procurator for two years.  

Lucia (Wilhelmina) Schwoeffermann 1898-1988

Sister Lucia (Wilhelmina) Schwoeffermann was born September 11, 1989, to Gerard and Helena (Terverr) in St. Charles, Minnesota.  She entered the community in 1918, beginning her teaching career in 1919. In 1942, she received a B.A in Biology at the College of St. Benedict as she continued to teach throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. She continued to take courses as she taught. She volunteered for transfer to St. Bedes priory in 1948 in Eau Claire. She loved nature and enjoyed daily walks.

Ortrude (Agatha) Nester 1898-1992

Sister Ortrude (Agatha) Nester was born on November 2, 1898, in Vergas, MN to Rudoph and Mary (Heembrock).  The family moved to White Earth when she was 15. Agatha came to St. Benedict's in 1917, graduated from the Academy, and entered the community in 1920. On her application Sister Ortrude gave as her motive for joining the community, "doing the work of God and living in close union with Him" but also noted that watching the Sisters who lived and worked at White Earth motivated her.  At the time she came to St. Benedicts, it was during WWI.  She spent many years as an elementary and science teacher or principal, as superior or administrator. Sister Ortrude taught at the White Earth and Redlake missions and evinced a special interest in native American children.  Someone has termed her "a great lady". She received her B.A. in chemistry at the College of St. Benedict in 1941. She was the overseer of the construction of St. Benedict's Hospital in Ogden, UT.  In her later years she worked as sacristan, took care of guests and loved to crochet. She died at St. Scholastica Convent in 1992.

Phyllis (Virginia) Zuzek 1907-1992

Sister Phyllis (Virginia) Zuzek was born on March 17, 1907, in Hastings, MN, to William and Mary (Then). Sister Phyllis' family background is unusual in that her father was adopted as a baby by a Roman Catholic priest, Father John Zuzek.  She came to Saint Benedict's having had Benedictines as grade school teachers in Hastings.  She planned on being a nun since babyhood, or as soon as she knew what a nun was at age 5-6. Her grandmother sent her over to the convent with flowers every Saturday. Her parents died when she was young, her dad when she was five, and mom at age nine. Her sister fought to keep them together. They were a close-knit family working together.  She entered the community in 1925 and began teaching 1927 middle-level and high school throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.  In 1945, she received her B.A. in chemistry at St. Benedict. She returned to the Motherhouse in 1960, and for five years she was the community purchaser.  Then she was appointed the superior for the residents of St. Joseph Sanitarium, a position she filled for six years.  From 1971 until 1988 Sister Phyllis worked at the mission in Onamia where she cared for the clothing shop, tutored, and guided guests.  

Francene (Mary) Fronack 1912-1980

Sister Francene (Mary) Fronack was born on May 5, 1912, in Lastrup, Minnesota to Frank and Antonia (Halicki) and was a sister to Sister De Paul.  She entered the community in 1928. On her application she states, she felt it was her calling and she wanted to teach. She obtained her B.A. in biology as a major and chemistry as a minor in 1946, and her M.A. in teaching in 1964 with cognates in science and English from Sienna Heights College, in Michigan. She also studied in the summer months at St. Louis University, University of Minnesota, and Bemidji State University. She was a junior and senior high school teacher, teaching science classes, especially around the St. Cloud area. Also, she often served as principal and local superior. In 1967, she was stationed in Grand Bahama, teaching chemistry. Sister Francene was especially proud of her Polish heritage.  A high point of her life was when she journeyed to Des Moines, IA, for the visit of the first Polish Pope, John Paul ll. At one time she tutored adults using the Laubach Literacy Method.  Toward the end of her life, she became a craft coordinator at St. Scholastica Convent. 

Elvan (Mary) Drayna 1914-2011

Sister Evlan (Mary) Drayna was born on July 10, 1914, in Browerville, Minnesota to Peter and Christine (Debulla). As a young child, she played “sister” and felt she was born with a religious vocation, even creating her own religious habit.  She had an aunt and cousin who were both Benedictine. She entered the community in 1932. She received her B.A. in biology in 1955, with minors in art and philosophy.  A 40-year span in education meant teaching grades one through eight, almost always more than one grade at a time, music and, at times, the Polish language, being a teacher's aide or tutor for slow learners, librarian and some years the school principal, too.  In the 1950s she sketched a picture of the Blessed Virgin on a large framed canvas and her students sewed on hundreds of buttons, each signifying a school task successfully completed. The button “Madonna” is still on display in Little Falls, MN. It was constructed with over 4000 buttons, but not two alike. Her greatest challenge teaching was at the White Earth Reservation, which required many other responsibilities besides teaching. She helped to evacuate the students when a fire broke out and destroyed the dormitory. Sister Elvan was proud of her family and her Polish identity.  She produced volumes of family histories/genealogies as well as the history of the Browerville Parish. She often recalled incidents from her travels to Poland and Auschwitz. She was faithful to prayer and known for her long daily walks.

Camille (Dorothy) Hilgers 1923-2014

Sister Camille Hilgers was the sixth of thirteen children of William and Louise (Koch) Hilgers. She attended Saint Benedict's High School and then entered the Monastery receiving the name Camille.  She was certified as a medical technologist and worked at St. Cloud Hospital, St. Benedict's Hospital in Ogden, Utah, and Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, MN, for about ten years.  She also received a BA degree in Biology from the College of St. Benedict and an MS degree from St. Mary's College in Winona, MN.  She taught biology at Cathedral High School, St. Cloud, Memorial High School in Pierz, MN, and St. Lucy's Priory High School in Glendora, CA, for a total of 19 years.  From 1976 to 1986 she filled various roles in the College of St. Benedict and from 1981-2005 worked part-time in the Monastery archives and the monastery library.  In 2005 she moved to St. Scholastica Convent, where her special ministry was prayer and community living.  For relaxation, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, cards, Scrabble, mystery stories, long walks, and cooking.

Rosemary (James) Hoschette 1929-2011

Sister Rosemary (James) was born on May 26, 1929, to William and Lucille (Becker) in St. Paul, MN and was the third of five children. She followed her sister, Sister Luke to Saint Benedict's Monastery in 1949 and was given the name James. She later reverted back to her baptismal name. She had many experiences growing up in St. Paul, going to the State Fair, and enjoying the outdoors skating and swimming. She received her B.A. in Biology in 1951. Sister Rosemary served in education in Catholic high schools for 41 years in the capacity of teacher and counselor.  She found it "a joy working with high school students, so challenging, filled with optimism, helping to keep one young."  As the counselor at Benilde/St. Margaret, she lived by herself but returned to community living when she returned to St. Benedicts in 1993. She took up the reins as assistant director in the Art and Heritage Museum for 10 years, moving the museum to a new location. She organized records, collected, identified, researched, and accessed documents to help in the preservation of artifacts pertinent to the history of the Sisters of St. Benedict's Monastery. Her final vocation was working as a receptionist for the monastery which she continued until the time of her death.  The biologist in her continued to nurture plants and flowers with loving care.  She enjoyed feeding the birds, caring for the fish in the aquarium and being outdoors unless there was a jigsaw puzzle calling to her.

Jeremia (Mary Louise) Januschka 1934-2006

Sister Jeremia (Mary Louise) was born on March 15, 1934, to Adolph and Sophie (Pfeiffer) in Belle Prairie, Minnesota. The fourth of six children, Mary Louise attended the District School and St. Francis High School in Little Falls before coming to the College of St. Benedict.  In the fall of 1955 she entered Saint Benedict's Monastery.  She obtained her B.A. in biology at the College of St. Benedict in 1956 and her M.S. in science education from the University of North Dakota in 1970. Sister Jeremia's love of young people made her a successful science teacher in Pierz, the Bahama Islands, St. Cloud and Salt Lake City, Utah and led her to participate in Search and TEC weekends for the Catholic teens in Utah. She was a founding member of Mount Benedict Monastery and was elected its second regional superior in 1988.  Sister Jeremia was Associate Vocation Director, Vicar for Religious and Coordinator of Ongoing Formation of Deacons for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.  Trained in the art of spiritual direction, S. Jeremia gave many group retreats and did individual spiritual direction.

Rita (Cyprian) Kunkel 1936-XXXX

Sister Rita (Cyprian) was born on May 20th, 1936 to Leo and Katherine (Resch) in Pine City, Minnesota.  She was the youngest of twelve. Her family moved to Kimball, MN when she was in grade school She came to the monastery in 1950 and attended St. Benedict's Academy as an aspirant. She obtained her B.A. in chemistry at the College of Saint Benedict in 1963. Unique to her experience, she took one class at St. John's University before the cooperation existed. She was given assignments to teach elementary, middle level, and later high school at St. Boniface in Cold Spring, MN until it closed in 1968. She returned back to teach at St. Benedict's High School. She has served many roles in the community after teaching. Her career then shifted to nursing and she obtained a second degree. While she did not get an advanced degree, she was well educated with majors in chemistry and nursing and minors in biology, education, math, philosophy, and physics. After her career in nursing, she returned to the community and ran the Guest House for 18 years. She continues to serve the community in many ways. 

Lucinda (Joan Mary) Mareck 1938-XXXX

Sister Lucinda (Joan Mary) Mareck was born September 16, 1938 to Frank and Elizabeth (Schichta) in Albany, MN. She entered the community in 1956. She received her B.A. in biology in 1962. She taught grade school and high school science in the St. Cloud area. She obtained her M.S. in Religious Education.