Sister Gertrude (Trudy) Schommer, age 86, died on January 9, 2024, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.
Sister Trudy was born on May 18, 1937, in Wayzata, Minn. She was the fourth of five children born to the late Edward and Gertrude (Mergen) Schommer. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on July 31, 1955. She was a Franciscan Sister for 68 years.
Sister Trudy earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, St. Catherine’s College, St. Paul, Minn.; Master of Arts in Theology, Manhattanville College, Purchase, N,Y.; certified spiritual director, LaCasa de la Luz, Lafayette, Calif.; Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, Calif.
Sister Trudy ministered as an elementary teacher, director of religious education, campus minister, pastoral minister, secretary/bookkeeper, faith formation coordinator, parent educator, childhood family educator and program manager. She served in St. Cloud, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, Waite Park, Morris, White Bear Lake, New Ulm, Preston and Lanesboro, Minn. She also served in Wisconsin and Maryland.
Sister Trudy believed that all people should be honored and respected, and because of this, she used a lot of her energy in working for justice for all women. She enjoyed being with people, especially the elderly, who had a special place in her heart. She did not want children to just read the gospel, she wanted them to act it out so it would become part of their living. With that in mind she wrote Easiest Gospel Plays Ever, which contains everything needed to stage 15 of the greatest Gospel stories. Her love for Scripture took her to Israel in 1977 for six weeks of study and visiting the places made holy by Jesus. Sister Trudy loved outdoor activities where she could get close to nature in all its beauty. She also had a great love for card playing with family and friends; she played cards the day before she died.
Sister Trudy was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Edward and sister, Patricia.
Survivors include siblings: Kathleen Mulhern, Wykoff, Minn., and Barbara (Rolf) Engel, St. Paul, Minn.; nieces and nephews and her Franciscan Community.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date at St. Francis Convent.
Arrangements are by Enblom Brenny, Little Falls.
Donations to Franciscan Sisters ministries preferred.