+Sister Theophane Reinecke, O.S.B.
February 1, 1915 - January 4, 2012

Sister Theophane Reinecke, OSB, 96, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died on January 4, 2012 at the monastery. The vigil will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6 in the monastery chapel and the Mass of Resurrection will be on Saturday, January 7 at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Theophane was born February 1, 1915, the oldest of the seven children of John and Rose Hohe Reinecke, Baileyville, Kans. She attended Baileyville schools until her senior year, graduated from Mount St. Scholastica Academy, Atchison, and entered the Benedictine community there in 1932. She made monastic profession in 1934, and final profession in 1937. Sister Theophane graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College with a bachelor’s degree in education, and earned the Master of Arts in education from the University of Notre Dame. She also did graduate work in counseling at Notre Dame, Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia), and the College of St. Thomas, Minneapolis. For 46 years she taught in community schools including Guardian Angels (Kansas City, Mo.), LeBlond High School (St. Joseph, Mo.), and in Creston, Iowa, Flush, Kans., and Atkinson, Nebr. She spent much of her career as teacher and principal of Mount St. Scholastica Academy (1957-1965) and as dorm director there (1969-1981). She also began the Catholic school in Ottawa, Kans., and was principal there 1948-1957. When she retired from academic services, she served in the business offices of Benedictine College, Mount St. Scholastica Academy, and her monastery. Her students and colleagues remember her as a capable woman of prayer and refinement.

She was predeceased by her parents and siblings Frank, Clarence, Rita Holthaus and Clara Sextvern, and is survived by her sisters Helen Stallbaumer and Rose Ann Nordhus, her brother-in-law George Holthaus, by nieces and nephews, and by her monastic community. Let us remember her gratefully in our prayers.

S. Theophane's memorial card:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all my being bless God’s holy name."
Psalm 103:1

Sister Theophane shared her many gifts with students, friends, the sisters, and
the colleagues she came to know in a life dedicated to monastic ideals and education. Raised by an aunt after her mother died, Sister Theophane was the oldest child of John and Rose Hohe Reinecke of Baileyville, Kansas. After graduating from Mount St. Scholastica Academy, she entered the Mount community in 1932 and made monastic profession in 1934. She graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College with a major in education, and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Notre Dame. She started the grade school in Ottawa, Kansas, was principal of the Mount Academy from 1959 to 1965,
and was residence hall director there from 1969 to 1981. She worked in the Academy, College, and monastery business offices. Retreatants visited with her frequently in the dining room, appreciative of her unique mix of single-minded devotion to her calling and her understanding of what was going on in the world. They found her a good listener, interested in their views. She happily memorized 75 psalms and, walking down the hall, she would use as her mantra, “Bless
the Lord, O my soul.” Let us remember her in thankful prayer.

Reflection for the Funeral Vigil for Sister Theophane Reinecke, O.S.B. by Sister Joachim Holthaus

Reflection by Sister Rose Marie Stallbaume shared with the sisters in Mineiros, Brazil, at the Vigil for Sister Theophane Reinecke.