Obituary     

Lucille Schettler 1920 - 2011
Sister Lucille Schettler 

The Breda News, Breda, Iowa, January 11, 2012

Sister Lucille Schettler, of La Crosse, Wis., died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Villa St. Joseph in La Crosse, Wis.

Mass of Christian burial was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Mary of the Angels Chapel in St. Rose Convent in La Crosse. Burial was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in La Crosse. Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market St., La Crosse, Wis. 54601 - 4782.

On Sept. 1, 1920, Sister Lucille was born to Bernard and Emma (Hoebing) Schettler in Breda. She attended St. Bernard’s Grade and High School. After graduation, she spent a year at home, then enrolled in courses at Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa. She entered St. Rose Convent on Aug. 17, 1941. She was in her 68th year of her religious profession.

Lucille entered the novitiate on Aug. 12, 1942, and was given the name Sister Cecile. She later returned to her baptismal name. She made her profession vows on Aug. 12, 1944, and final profession on Aug. 9, 1950. Having earned a degree in music education, Sister Lucile taught music in elementary schools in Iowa, Spokane, Wash., and California for 36 years. After leaving the classroom, she ministered to the elderly in Las Vegas for a year, then took the position of director of religious education at St. Xavier’s Parish in Spokane. From 1991 - 1995, she lived in Palo Alto, Calif., with several other Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

In her semi-retirement, she gave music lessons to students in the area. She also volunteered in the diocesan Catholic Charities office for several years in Mobile, Ala. In 1999, she retired at St. Rose Convent and made the Villa her residence in 2009.

Sister Lucille loved to play cards and brought her own deck. In retirement she spent many hours on the computer. Her desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus was fulfilled in 1995 when she took part in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She was also close to nature and enjoyed visits to gardens and parks.

Sister Lucille is survived by her Franciscan community; one sister, Rita (Fred) Lorenz of Omaha, Neb; her brother Ray (Rita) Schettler of Breda; and nieces and nephews, including a niece, Sister Suzanne Gross, FSE.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Eugene, Leonard, Vincent, Cyril and Joseph, and her sisters Cecilia, Marcella, Leona, Georgia and Laurine.

 

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