Obituary of Sister Donata Rolheiser

On November 5, 2011 Sister Donata Rolheiser of Macklin, Saskatchewan went home to be with the Lord. "My life has been good. God has blessed me most abundantly for which I am daily grateful". These words of Sister Donata (Mary Rolheiser), written some thirty years ago, defined a woman who lived and served with joy right up to the day she died unexpectedly in her home in Macklin at the age of 84. Mary was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Macklin, Saskatchewan to Elizabeth (Baier) and Alex Rolheiser, the eldest of ten children. She grew up on a farm in the Cosine area and went to Panama School until the age of 13. At home Mary helped to raise the family and worked for hire to subsidize the family income. "While working with the Sisters of St. Elizabeth at Macklin I was drawn to consider religious life", she writes. She entered the Convent of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth in Humboldt in 1951, was given the name Sr. Donata at the time she received the habit of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth in 1951. On October 27, 1953 she made her temporary profession of vows and in 1957 perpetual profession of vows. She celebrated her 50th anniversary of profession in 2003. In the community Sr. Donata excelled wherever she was asked to serve be it in the cooking, sewing, laundry, gardening, housekeeping or pastoral care. She served with the Sisters in Retreat houses, Nursing homes, Hospitals, and in her last years, the parish church in Macklin especially as pastoral visitor to the sick and shut-ins. Sr. Donata was a hard worker, talented with a great singing voice, an expert at crafts, and great gardening skills both outdoors and indoors. We remember her humor, hearty laughter, joyful, optimistic, sunny and fun loving spirit and her generous service to whoever needed a helping hand. Sr. Donata is lovingly remembered by her Sisters in Community; sisters, Hilda (Joe) Rottmar, Doreen (Bernard) Gartner, Victoria (Mike) Schlosser, Delphina (August) Weinkauf, Kathleen (Victor) Scheck and Delores (Leonard) Schlosser; brothers, Alex (Emilia) Rolheiser, John (Agnes) Roheiser; sister in law, Kathy Rolheiser; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Sr. Donata was predeceased by her parents, Alex & Elizabeth Rolheiser and brother, Hubert Rolheiser.