In Memoriam: Sister Rosemary Rader, OSB
Funeral Live Stream
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
10:30 a.m.
Watch this video to celebrate Sister Rosemary Rader's life on
St. Paul’s Monastery Facebook page: facebook.com/StPaulsMonastery/live/
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“May Christ bring us all together to everlasting life.”
Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 72:12
Sister Rosemary Rader passed away on June 29, 2022 at St. Paul’s Monastery’s Health Care Center. She was 91 years old, having lived her monastic profession for 71 years.
Born to Anton and Cecilia (Skrypek) Rader on April 11, 1931 in St. Leo, MN, Rosemary was the ninth child in a family of thirteen: eight boys and five girls. She received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation at St. Leo’s Church in St. Leo and entered the Scholasticate in 1948 at St. Paul’s Priory, making first vows in 1950. She began her scholarly career at St. Catherine University and subsequently earned an M.A. in Latin at the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. in Religious Studies followed by a Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1977. She studied in Rome on a Fulbright scholarship in 1966-67, and returned in 1976-77. She served as Prioress from 1984-1992 and was elected President of the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses. She was on sabbatical at Oxford, England from 1992-94. Later, she served as President of the American Benedictine Academy and gave retreats and workshops throughout the country. She was the author of the book, Breaking Boundaries: Male/Female Friendship in Early Christian Communities, Paulist Press, 1983, and published many other articles in academic journals and publications.
Sister Rosemary ministered at St. Joseph’s Home for Children, Minneapolis in 1958-60. In the 1950’s and 60’s, she taught at Visitation, Minneapolis; St. Bernard’s, St. Paul; and Archbishop Murray Memorial High School, Maplewood. She was an assistant professor at Arizona State University from 1977-1984 and visiting associate professor at Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges in Northfield, MN from 1994-99. Sister Rosemary was a joyful monastic with a good sense of humor and creative quips. She loved to travel, enjoyed new adventures and was a good chef. She was supreme in appreciating others’ gifts and talents.
She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters, Associates, Oblates, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Lawrence (infant), Joseph, Lawrence, Alfred, Henry, Paul, Eugene, Herman and her sisters, Sister Cecile Marie, OSB, Frances, Marie, and Ruth Ann. We pray after her many years of scholarly service, she can now rest and learn with the endless multitude, enjoying the presence of our loving God. While we will miss her, we know she is praising God with the Christ she loved and joyfully served.
A Visitation vigil was held at Sandberg Funeral Home, July 5, 2022, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial July 6, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery. Mass was livestreamed on St. Paul’s Monastery Facebook page. Interment at the Monastery Cemetery. Memorials preferred to St. Paul’s Monastery.
Community of St. Paul’s Monastery
Sisters, Oblates, and Benedictine Associates
Sister Catherine Nehotte, OSB, Prioress
St. Paul, Minnesota
Federation of St. Benedict
"Wisdom" (Adapted from Wisdom 6:12-16)
I, Wisdom, am with you.
I am a light that will never grow dim.
Love me and you will see me.
Look for me and you will find me.
At the slightest indication
of your desire for me,
I will make myself known to you.
Watch for me at the very start
of what you are about,
and you will have no trouble.
You will find me, ever present,
sitting at your table.
Even thinking about my
presence will help you.
Be aware of my presence, my concern,
my willingness to inspire and to instruct you.
As you meet with each other,
I will meet with each and all of you.
