Sister Madeleva Schur

Sister Madeleva Schur, OSB, 94, died January 15, 2015, in the Benedictine Health Center. Born in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, on May 30, 1920, she was the daughter of Rowland and Emma (Gagnon) Schur. Sister was in her 73rd year of Monastic Profession.

Raised in a strong Catholic family, at age four, Gertrude won a picture of a Guardian Angel, which she cherished and which spawned her lifelong devotion to her Angel. Within a year after graduating from high school, she sought to enter St. Scholastica Monastery. She professed her Triennial Vows on July 11, 1941, and her Perpetual Vows on July 11, 1944.

In her yearning to follow Jesus, Sister Madeleva wished to be a teacher, and received a B.S. degree in Education from The College of St. Scholastica, with further studies at St. Paul Teachers' College and Graduate studies at UMD. She provided remarkable loving service as an elementary teacher in Catholic schools on the range and in Minneapolis for 35 years (1942-1979). During this time she also served as Principal at Holy Rosary in Lake Linden, Michigan, and Principal and House Supervisor at St. Margaret Mary School in Duluth and St. Mary's School in Pine City, Minnesota. In addition, she felt privileged to care for her mother, first at home and then at the Benedictine Health Center while she continued teaching in Virginia, Minnesota, and then working at St. Ann's in Duluth.

Sister Madeleva celebrated her Golden Jubilee on July 28, 1991; her Diamond Jubilee on February 11, 2001, and her 70th Jubilee on August 14, 2011. Furthermore, she felt grateful to have the opportunity of joining the "Peace Pilgrimage" to Fatima, Portugal, seven times. On her last pilgrimage she renewed her vows of 60 years and led a decade of the Rosary in the "Capalinha" (Chapel of Apparitions) on July 22, the Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalen, her patron saint. Afterward she declared, "It was an awesome Feast Day to remember."

Sister Madeleva was preceded in death by her parents Rowland and Emma, her brothers Chester, Harold, James, and John and her sister Rachel Stenrud. Besides the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, Sister Madeleva is survived by her siblings Herbert H. Schur and Burrell Kubacki, and devoted nieces, nephews, and friends. The Wake Service will be Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at 9:45 a.m. in Our Lady of Queen of Peace Chapel at St. Scholastica Monastery. The Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. The presider will be Father Peter Lambert. Dinner will be served immediately after. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery are preferred. Arrangements are by the Dougherty Funeral Home.