Barbara Schwab

Funeral Mass of Christian burial for Sister Barbara Ann (Frances) Schwab of the Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton will be 10:00 a. m. (MT) Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at Sacred Heart Monastery Chapel, Richardton with Father Terrance Kardong, OSB celebrating. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Monastery Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, June 20, 2011 from 2:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. (MT) at Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, with a wake service at 7:00 p. m. (MT) at the Sacred Heart Monastery ChapelFollowing a lengthy illness, Sister Barbara Ann died peacefully at Medcenter One St. Vincent?s Care Center in Bismarck on June 18, 2011. Sister Barbara Ann was born November 3, 1923, to John and Julia (Heinz) Schwab in rural Oliver County, ND. The eleventh of fifteen children, Frances attended a country school about a mile from the Schwab farm. Following the example of her older sister Margaret (Sister Juliana) she entered Sacred Heart Convent in Garrison, receiving the name Sister Barbara Ann. After making her monastic profession in 1943, she spent the next ten years working toward a teaching degree at summer school, while teaching classes during the regular school year. She studied for a Bachelor?s Degree in Education at Minot State College in Minot, ND, and Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD, and a Master?s Degree in Theology at St. John?s University in Collegeville, MN. She taught at parish schools in Garrison and Fallon, at St. Leo?s School, Little Flower School and Sacred Heart Academy all in Minot, and also in Malta, MT and Barnsville, MN. She served as subprioress as well as council member of the monastery, and board member of St. Vincent?s Nursing Home in Bismarck. Following her teaching years, she did pastoral ministry at Little Flower Parish in Minot for twenty years. Her favorite part of this ministry was to prepare children and families for the reception of the Sacraments. In the summer of 1995 she was assigned to assist with activities and spiritual care at Marillac Manor in Bismarck. Due to vision loss caused by macular degeneration, Sister Barbara Ann retired to the Monastery in 1997. Because of her excessive energy and desire to help others, her ?retirement? consisted of helping in the kitchen, sweeping floors, assisting with laundry, and cleaning llama wool. On seeing anyone working at a task, her spontaneous question was ?Can I help you?? Her special ministry was to pray for vocations, benefactors and the Foundation Board members and staff. Her daily form of relaxation was to take several walks a day outside–winter and summer, where she was tagged by Lucky, the monastery dog, for whom she carried treats in her pocket. She delighted in the beauty of nature, enjoyed gardening, raised numerous indoor plants, and played pinochle?for which she finally sat down at the end of the day. Because of failing eyesight and health issues, she entered St. Vincent?s Care Center in July, 2010. She is survived by one sister, Barbara Kompish of Nokomis, FL; one brother Ralph and sister-in-law Dorothy of Rapid City, SD; brother-in-law Frank Scharosch of Hazen, ND; sisters-in-law Marlene Schwab of Mandan, ND; Bernice Schwab of Green Valley, AZ; Margie Warden of Louisville, KY; several nephews and nieces; and the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery.


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Burial Date: June 21, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Tuesday, Sacred Heart Monestery