Sister Mary Rachel Schleicher
(Mary Albertine)
Born to earthly life: March 13, 1919
Religious profession: July 28, 1938
Entered eternal life: March 11, 2008
Sister Rachel, formerly known as Sister Albertine, slipped away from us as gently as she lived among us at NDEG It seemed as if she had just been smiling her way around the dining room gathering table napkins when we learned that she had left for Ruth Hospice. Ten days later she died there peacefully on March 11.
Sister Rachel's official autobiography is brief, but in other carefully kept notebooks, she left a simple, but detailed account, of the significant persons and places in her life. These mini-chronicles show us a woman with gentle love for each person, a deep appreciation of community, and a wry sense of humor. The stories told by those who spoke at her wake service underscored these qualities.
Rachel was born to Albert and Elizabeth Schleicher in Madison, Wisconsin. She grew up there and went to Holy Redeemer parish school. She was an only child, living with her mother after her parents divorced. She and her mother had to move often, and since it was a distance from school, she said, "Great-grandma's home was a second home."
After finishing eighth grade, Rachel entered the SSND juniorate. Of her early days in the juniorate, Rachel wrote: "I was so happy to be with a bunch of girls that homesickness was never on my mind."
At reception, Rachel received the name Sister Albertine. Her first mission was Immaculate Conception, Barton. She would walk from there to Holy Angels, West Bend on Saturdays for violin lessons from Sister Noraleen. In return she was accompanist for Sister Noraleen's exams at the Milwaukee Conservatory.
Sister Rachel taught music at several schools. She points out that the two longest times were ten years at St. John de Nepomuc and 17 years at St. Augustine; both parishes located in Milwaukee.
She received library certification from Marian College in Fond du Lac, WI. She then became both music teacher and librarian at several places.
She pointed out that her last mission, like her first, was named Immaculate Conception, this time in Saukville, where she organized a parish and school library, and taught music and library skills.
Sister Rachel came to Elm Grove in 1989. Although officially "retired," she continued to serve as librarian, a companion to sisters going to doctors' appointments, and finally as collector of the table napkins after every meal. Her sparking smile, eagerness to serve, good humor, and honesty won the hearts of staff and sisters.
Her prayer, found in her office book, included these words, expressive of her loving life: "Be a joyous person! A community person! SSND spirituality: Our mission is "spreading' Jesus by our lives in community with one another."
– Sister Mary Luke Baldwin
Sister Rachel’s ministry locations were:
- Immaculate Conception, Barton, WI – 1938-1941 (music teacher)
- St. Ambrose, Chicago, IL – 1941-1945 (music teacher)
- St. Augustine, Milwaukee, WI – 1945-1951 (music teacher)
- St. John de Nepomuc, Milwaukee, WI – 1951-1958 (music teacher)
- St. John de Nepomuc, Milwaukee, WI – 1958-1961 (music teacher and grade 8 teacher, half day)
- St. Mary, Elm Grove, WI – 1961-1964 (music teacher)
- St. Aloysius, West Allis, WI – 1964-1965 (music teacher and organist)
- St. Luke, Brookfield, WI – 1965-1968 (teacher, grade 4)
- St. James, Mequon, WI – 1968-1970 (teacher, grade 4 and organist)
- St. Nicholas, Milwaukee, WI – 1970-1973 (music teacher)
- St. John Kanty, Milwaukee, WI – 1973-1975 (librarian)
- St. Augustine, Milwaukee, WI – 1975-1986 (librarian and music teacher)
- Immaculate Conception, Saukville, WI – 1986-1989 (librarian)
- Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, WI – 1989 to present (retired)
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