Sister Mary Bonaventure Schneeberger
Born to earthly life: January 15, 1914
Religious profession: July 20, 1939
Entered eternal life: November 12, 2008
Sister Bonaventure was born in Rothenbach, Germany, on the Peguitz River and was named Elizabeth. Her brother John (lovingly called Hans) was 11 years older than she. The young family was soon to be disrupted by WWI. Her father Joseph was called to service in August and declared missing in October. Sister Bonnie said her widowed mother cooked in a military camp. This was a great help because she was able to obtain food, a scarce commodity as the war years dragged on.
In 1917, the family moved to Neunburg vorm Wald where School Sisters of Notre Dame taught in the parish school. Sister Bonaventure knew from early on, when she was only eight years of age that she wanted to be a sister. In March of 1934, after completing the necessary training, Elizabeth was certified to teach needlework in grades one through college.
A circular of General Superior Mother Mary Almeda Schricker brought about the decision to go to America. In September 1934, she arrived at the Motherhouse in Milwaukee. July 18, 1938, found her celebrating reception. Meanwhile, war was brewing. The early years of profession bore the added grief of separation from home with all means of communication cut off. During this time, and until 1956, her needlework skills were put to good use in the tapestry room.
From 1956 through 1970, Sister Bonaventure crossed the Atlantic many times. She worked two different times at the Generalate in Rome and once in the Munich Motherhouse. After returning to America in 1970, Mequon and Mt. Calvary were her main homes until she retired to Elm Grove in 2006. Sister spent nearly 24 years of her life at Mt. Calvary. She fell in love with the place. Her brother Hans, who visited her, loved it also.
Sister Bonnie and Mary Warrichaiet got to know each other while both were at Mt. Calvary. Their friendship flourished. When sister moved to Elm Grove, Mary came to visit regularly. Mary told Sister Joan Emily how one day, when she had had a very bad day, she burst into Bonnie's room. Bonnie's first words were, "Oh Mary, I was so angry today." "Me too, Bonnie," said Mary, at which point they both laughed and laughed. Then they walked together, all anger dissipated. Mary was with Sister when she died.
Sister Joan Emily was reading about Pope Benedict's homily for November 2 just after she had looked at Sister's resume and at the number of times she had crossed the ocean. The Pope said no one knows exactly what eternal life is nor how it will be, but what we can hope for and expect from our being with Christ is ''the immersion of self in an ocean of infinite love, of the fullness of love and joy."
Sister ended her eulogy with the following. "Sister Bonaventure, you who knew firsthand the magnitude of the Atlantic Ocean, now realize how tiny it is compared to that ocean of love and joy that encompasses you. Bon Voyage! Pray for us, Bonnie. Amen."
– Dorothy Land, SSND
Sister Mary Bonaventure ministered as a seamstress and housekeeper in a variety of missions, located in Wisconsin and abroad. She retired in 1990 and continued to serve through her prayers and presence.
Sister Bonaventure's ministry locations included:
- Motherhouse Tapestry Room, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- SSND Motherhouse on Via Appia, Rome, Italy
- SSND Generalate on Via della Stazione, Rome, Italy
- Neusprachliges Gymnasium, School for Languages, Munich, Bavaria
- Our Lady of the Lake, Mequon, Wisconsin
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin
- Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, Wisconsin
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