Sister Mary Clare Scheessele, 90, of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand

Sister Mary Clare Scheessele, 90, of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, died at 3:55 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center.

Sister Mary Clare was born November 17, 1925, in Spencer County, Indiana, the eighth of nine children born to John George and Ida (Griesbaum) Scheessele. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1945 and made her profession of monastic vows in 1947.  She celebrated 60 years of monastic profession in 2007.

She is survived by one brother, Kenneth, of Newburgh; nieces and nephews; and members of her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents; seven sisters, Beatrice Scheessele, Esther Browning, Coletta Scheessele, Dorothy Lindauer, Eleanora Lathery, Sister Jovita Scheessele, OSB, and Sister Mary Kenneth Scheessele, OSB.

Sister Mary Clare taught at St. Benedict School and taught and served as principal at Mater Dei High School, both in Evansville.  She was the registrar and dean of sister students at St. Benedict College in Ferdinand.  At the monastery, she served as subprioress, Oblate director, and business office assistant.  She coordinated the sisters’ missions in Peru and Guatemala, engaged in retreat ministry, and served as a spiritual director.  She was secretary to the Marian Heights Academy principal and administrative assistant to the president of the Federation of Saint Gertrude. She most recently served as clerical assistant to the subprioress and to the monastery bakery.

Visitation will be at the monastery on Wednesday, June 8, from 3:00 – 6:45 p.m. EDT and on Thursday, June 9, from 2:00 – 4:15 p.m. EDT.  A wake service will be Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The funeral Mass will be on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. EDT in the monastery church followed by burial in the monastery cemetery.

Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.