Sr. Dolores Schneider

Sister Dolores (Regina) Schneider, OSU Prelate, was called into eternal life on July 19th, 2022 at St. Angela Merici Residence, Saskatoon, at the age of 96 years. Daughter of Caroline (Spohr) and Alois Schneider, she was born on December 28, 1925 in St. Walburg, SK, the oldest of seven children. She took her elementary education at St. Walburg Public School and met the Ursuline Sisters when they came to teach summer catechism in the parish.

Cherishing a deep desire to become a nurse, she struggled with her attraction toward religious life. However, in response to an inner prompting along with the encouragement of Fr. Tim Riffel, OMI and her grandmother, in 1942 she went to Prelate, SK where she entered the Ursuline Community and took the name Sister Dolores. Upon making her temporary profession in 1945, she pursued her ARCT in piano and took training as an auxiliary nurse.

Following her Perpetual Profession in 1948, she taught piano for three years at Quinton, SK and then for eighteen years served as directress of girls at St. Angela’s Academy. She developed a lifelong affection for the many girls for whom she became a “second mother” during their Academy years. She also taught piano, vocal, and theory, accompanied the choral group and Fireside Chorus and prepared many students for Music Festivals in Prelate, Leader, Swift Current and Saskatoon. In addition she served as the acting nurse for the girls and Sisters.

In 1970 she pursued her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Manitoba and went on to complete her Bachelor of Education in 1975. She then served as teacher/music specialist at Dalhousie Public Elementary School in Winnipeg for 22 years, taking a study break in 1979 to obtain her Masters in Education specializing in Music Therapy. From 1973 to 1984, she also served as “senior don” of St. John’s Anglican Residence at the University of Manitoba. For many years she directed choirs at Mary, Mother of the Church, St. Paul’s College, and St. Mary’s Cathedral, and also directed the Knight of Columbus Men’s choir. In the summers she directed the Ursuline choir for jubilees and special celebrations. At various times, she took studies in Liturgy and Spirituality at Santa Clara University, CA, Spiritual Direction in Burlingame, CA and in Music Therapy at the University of Loyola in New Orleans. After a three-month sabbatical in Kansas in 2002, she moved to Saskatoon where she assisted in music ministry at the parishes of St. Peter the Apostle, St. Michael’s, and Holy Spirit. A woman of deep faith, Sister Dolores gave priority to nurturing her spiritual life. In 1984, she participated in a month long Angela Spirituality Institute in Brescia, Italy and in 2003 took part in an Ursuline pilgrimage to Italy and France. She treasured the opportunities to participate in Centering Prayer. In October 2014 she moved to Trinity Manor where she continued her musical involvements until health issues prompted her to move to St. Angela Merici Residence.

A “people person”, Sister Dolores radiated a warm, joyful and dynamic personality, generously sought to be a blessing in the lives of others and enjoyed many warm friendships. She often expressed her gratitude to her Ursuline Community for the numerous opportunities she was given in studies and ministries.

Sister Dolores was predeceased by her mother in 1977; her father in 1982, as well as her sisters, Isabelle (Jim Nason), Margaret and Katherine (Jim Bone), her brothers Alois (Audrey) and Werner and brother-in-law, John Moore. Her memory is cherished deeply by her Ursuline community, her sister Karin, sister-in-law Shirley and her nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon. Following lunch, the Rite of Committal will take place at the Prelate Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends and relatives are invited to contribute to the Ursuline mission of education by donating to St. Angela's Academy Foundation, at 305 Hilliard St. E., Saskatoon, SK, S7J 0E5. Arrangements entrusted to David Polzen.