SisterEdith Marie Schnell

My heart is filled with gratitude for family, friends, and Dominican Sisters.

Rose Marie was born on April 6, 1943 to Clarence and Marie Schnell. She lived a very simple life with her mother and three brothers on a farm in Michigan. Her early years were enriched by the example and lives of her faith-filled grandparents, aunts and uncles.

She was educated by Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters at St. Michael School in Maple Grove, New Lothrop, Michigan. Dominican Sisters planted the seed of helping others in her heart and assisted her in cultivating, fertilizing and nurturing the growth of that seed. She continued her education at Aquinas College, completing a BA degree and a Masters of Religious Education. As Sister Edith set out on a life of service, the charisms of joy and hospitality permeated each of her life and ministry choices.

Through the years, her diverse ministries were a great source of personal enrichment. Teaching in elementary schools, ministering in parishes as Director of Religious Education, operating food pantries and soup kitchens, sheltering homeless families, ministering to college students, initiating, organizing and leading family-centered intergenerational religious education, and working in areas of peace and justice have always enhanced her life.

Sister Edith served for five years as Pastoral Minister at Sacred Heart Parish in Saginaw, Michigan: assisted in creating the East Side Soup Kitchen; organized Vacation Bible School; developed Family Enrichment sessions, planned Christian Service Projects, supported Liturgy planning, and more. She served as Pastoral Associate & DRE from 1984-1989 at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Chicago and directed the Food Pantry Program, Neighborhood Community Action coordinator.

Sister Edith was Director of Religious Education at St. Paschal Church in West Monroe, Louisiana, supporting parishioners and volunteers. In recent years, she  servers

My hope and prayer are to embrace today, and my challenge for the future is to dream dreams, create tomorrow, and constantly thank God for all good gifts which surround me.

— 1987, Edith Marie Schnell, 25th Jubilee

Life is like a kaleidoscope. All through life -- people change, ministries change, but the one thread which does not change is one's relationship with God.

– Sister Edith reflecting on her ministry