Sr. Charlene Schoen

Sister Charlene (Dorothy) Schoen passed away Monday, February 13, 2012, at St. Scholastica Monastery. She was born to William Joseph and Bernadine E. (Heurung) Schoen on December 9, 1915, in Swan River, Minnesota. Sister Charlene was in the seventy-sixth year of her Benedictine Monastic Profession.

On August 17, 1934, Dorothy entered St. Scholastica Monastery; Sister Charlene professed her monastic vows on July 11, 1936. She began teaching at Marquette School, Virginia, Minnesota, in 1937. Her distinguished teaching career spanned over fifty full-time years and included assignments at St. James and Sacred Heart Schools in Duluth, St. Timothy School in Chicago, Assumption Hall School in Hibbing, St. Thomas School in International Falls, and St. Bridget’s School in Minneapolis for over twenty years. She was also principal of Holy Name School in Wayzata from 1958 to 1964. She taught part-time for eight years at St. Bridget’s before retiring. She felt especially at home at St. Bridget’s because she had attended school there beginning with third grade through eighth grade. She was proud of never missing a day of teaching because of illness, and grateful for each day she taught “God’s children.”

Sister Charlene received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from The College of St. Scholastica and a Master of Arts degree in elementary education and counseling from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was very devoted to the children she taught, whether she was pitching a baseball for them at recess or teaching them about the importance of love. “If you chase love out of the room, I can’t teach.”

She celebrated her Silver Jubilee on August 15, 1961, her Golden Jubilee on August 17, 1986, and her Seventy-fifth Jubilee on August 14, 2011. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Joseph and Bernadine E. Schoen, her brothers Charles and Otto, and sister Lucille Manson. In addition to the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and countless friends.

A wake service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at St. Scholastica Monastery. Visitation will continue until 10:45 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. Father Brian Schultz will be the presider. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery are preferred. Please leave a memory of Sister Charlene or words of support at www.bellbrothersjarvidowd.com Arrangements are by Bell Brothers Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home.