Sister Bernadette Schafer, SND

Sister Bernadette Schafer’s oldest sister was a Sister of Notre Dame. With a 10-year age difference, however, Sister Bernadette says she didn’t know her very well. She was only three when her sister left for the convent. When Sister Bernadette was in the eighth grade, her teacher asked her if she wanted to be a Sister too, Sister Bernadette adamantly replied, “No, and don’t ask me again!”

At that time, though, she didn’t like school and claims she wasn’t a good student. But then she decided to tag along with a friend who was visiting Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, OH and something felt right while she was there. She opened her heart to the idea and enrolled at Notre Dame Academy as an aspirant her freshman year. She still jokes today that she can’t believe they accepted her! Three years later she was ready to answer the call and entered the convent as a senior. The young girl who once considered herself a poor student was teaching by the time she was 19.

Sister Bernadette taught and served as principal for lower-level grades. When schools experienced shortages – of staff or funds – she would pull double duty as principal and teacher. Her ministry assignments led her to schools all over the Midwest: Illinois, Indiana and many locations in Ohio. Sister Bernadette found great joy in working with students, but also in her relationships with the other teachers. She said, “I remember laughing a lot. I can’t recall a bad year, ever.” Never a bad year, but Sister Bernadette did face some challenging moments, “I often felt like I couldn’t keep up with teaching trends and feared I wouldn’t know what to do. In those times, though, I would pray; and God showed up and always did half the work. He knew what to do when I didn’t.”

“My favorite memories are from when I was principal and the kindergartners would bring me treats. Usually, it was cookies or candy, but I remember this one little boy who brought me carrots and celery. He laughed so hard when I told him, ‘Thank you, but where’s my candy?’”

Sister Bernadette enjoys a NuStep machine thanks to a SOAR! grant

At 99, Sister Bernadette is the oldest Sister residing at the Sisters of Notre Dame Assisted Living Center in Whitehouse, OH and still loves a good laugh and a good piece of candy. She is careful to balance her love of candy, though, with regular exercise, which is why she appreciates the new therapeutic exercise equipment at the Center made possible by the SOAR! grant, “If you want to keep living, you have to keep moving and now I can!”

Sister Bernadette is known for her sense of humor, joyful energy and zest for life. She encourages people to have fun and always look for the humor in life. “Make God a priority, take one day at a time and never stop laughing.”