RUMA — Sister Rose (Margaret Rose) Schrage, ASC, died Nov. 14 at the Ruma Center. She was 86 years old and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 67 years.
Sister Rose was born on Dec. 31, 1928 in St. Rose, one of eight children born to the late Bernard and Mary (Goestenkors) Schrage.
She made her first profession on July 1, 1948 and her final vows on July 1, 1953.
Sister Rose ministered almost 30 years as an elementary teacher, or in some cases, as both teacher and principal. In Illinois, she served at Ss. Peter and Paul in Waterloo (1949-52), St. Elizabeth in East St. Louis (1952-54; 1961-63), St. Bruno in Pinckneyville (1954-55; 1977-79), Holy Family in Cahokia (1955-57), St. Boniface in Evansville (1957-58; 1968-70), St. Joseph in Olney (1958-59), and St. Matthew in Alton (1967-68; 1970-77). She also taught in Missouri.
She then served as a houseparent at the Catholic Children's Home in Alton (1979-81). At DeMattias Hall, the Adorers' House of Studies in St. Louis, Sister Rose served briefly as the assistant to the executive housekeeper, and then held that position herself for many years. She also became the assistant administrator at DeMattias during her final years there.
For the final 11 years of her active ministry, Sister Rose served as housekeeping and laundry supervisor at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis.
Sister Rose earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in American history, both from Saint Louis University. After Vatican Council II in the early 1960s, she led discussions on religious life in Jefferson City, Mo.
When she retired from active ministry, she helped with laundry and ironing at the Ruma Center, and enjoyed reading, walking, crocheting and a good cup of coffee and conversation.
Sister Rose is survived by her brother James (Sandy), nieces, nephews and members of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Ferdinand, Oscar, Edgar, Bernard Jr. and Cletus, her sister Marie, and sisters-in-law Ruth, Catherine and Theresa.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Nov. 18 in the Ruma Center Chapel with Msgr. Dan Jurek as presider. Burial followed in the Ruma Center cemetery.
Memorials in her honor may be sent to the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, U.S. Region, Mission Center, 4233 Sulphur Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63109 or made online at www.adorers.org.