Sister Mary Aloise 1898-1944

ALOISE, SCHWERS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/14/2009 at 17:13:29

DEATH CLAIMS SISTER ALOISE
Member of Sacred Heart Hospital Staff

Sister Mary Aloise, 45, member of the staff at the Sacred Heart Hospital for the past twenty-two years, died at the hospital Sunday, July 23, following an illness of several days.

Sister Mary Aloise was born at New Vienna, Iowa, August 27, 1898, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schwers, where she grew up and entered St. Francis College, Dubuque, August 27, 1917, and assumed the vows of sisterhood of Mount St. Francis in 1920. She taught two years in St. Mary’s school in New Hampton and in 1922 came to LeMars and worked in the hospital conducted by Sisters on North Central Avenue, before the Sacred Heart Hospital was opened. Sister Aloise was a member of the first school established for training of nurses at the Sacred Heart Hospital and graduated in 1926. There were five members in the class: Sister Aloise, Sister Clemata, Agnes Schwers, now Mrs. Albin Vanderharr of New Vienna, Rita Koch, now Mrs. Peter Wiltgen of LeMars, and Mae Keilen, now Mrs. Al Oliver of Elma, Iowa.

Sister Aloise has been the supervisor in the different departments of the hospital and for the last few years was record librarian in the institution. She was a member of the Iowa Association of Medical Librarians and in 1943 was president of the association. She was active in Red Cross work as an instructor and helped greatly with the medical records.

Sister Aloise made many friends in LeMars, regardless of race or creed, and was beloved by many, who had experienced her tender care and solicitude when they or their relatives were sick.

Sister Aloise is survived by her father, Clarence Schwers, of New Vienna, three brothers and four sisters. One of her sisters is Sister Clemata of the Sacred Heart Hospital staff. Another is Sister Alfrieda, who teaches at St. Catherine’s near Dubuque. Her sister, Mrs. Agnes Vanderharr, was a fellow graduate with her in LeMars.

Services will be held Tuesday morning in the Sacred Heart Hospital chapel, with Rev. Father Edward Vollmer officiating, and the remains will be taken to Dubuque where services will be held Wednesday morning at Mount St. Francis and burial made in the cemetery at Dubuque.

The Wiltgen funeral home of LeMars is in charge of arrangements.

~Source: The LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, July 25, 1944