December 12, 1902 – November 8, 1999
Sister Assumpta (Bertha) Schaecher, 96, died of causes related to age at the Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, ID, on November 8, 1999. She was born in Petersburg, NE, on December 12, 1902, to Theodore and Catherine (Beller) Schaecher.
In 1920 Sr. Schaecher entered the Monastery of St. Gertrude where she made her monastic profession as a Benedictine Sister in August of 1921. For the next 34 years, she taught elementary grades in Cottonwood, Nezperce, Genesee, Greencreek, Keuterville, Nampa, Ferdinand, St. Maries, Boise, Pocatello and Lewiston, Idaho, and in Pomeroy and Colton, WA. In 1962, following an 8-year term as sub-prioress at the monastery, she was sent to teach lower grades at Colegio San Carlos, a boys’ school in Bogota, Colombia, and served as superior for the 13 Sisters living there from eight different U.S. communities. She soon became well known for her student harmonica bands which often played on the radio. She returned to Idaho in 1967 and resumed her teaching duties. Four years later she returned to her beloved San Carlos where she continued teaching until failing health necessitated her return to St. Gertrude’s in 1985. The last years she spent her time visiting the sick, sewing, and caring for plants.
Sister Schaecher’s family and friends remember her for her keen humor, outstanding dedication, deep prayerfulness, zest for life, and gentle compassion.
She is survived by her sister Sr. Aquinas Schaecher, also of the Monastery of St. Gertrude. She was preceded in death by her brothers Lawrence and Ray, and her sisters Gertrude Albers and Sister Rose from St. Gertrude’s.
A Vigil Service was held in the Monastery Chapel on Wednesday, November 10, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, November 11, 1999, at 1:00 p.m. in the Monastery Chapel. Fr. Meinrad Schallberger, OSB, Chaplain at the Monastery, presided. Prioress Jean Lalande, OSB, gave the homily.