Yankton: S. Rachel Brossart OSB, 95, died in the Sacred Heart Monastery Care Center in Yankton on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013.
A wake service was held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, and a funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at 10:30 a.m., both at Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel in Yankton.
Burial was in the monastery cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz and Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.
Margaret Brossart was born Sept. 17, 1917, the second of five children of Michael and Magdalena (Schmidt) Brossart of Aberdeen. Her parents were born in Russia and immigrated to the United States when they were in their early teens. Margaret attended St. Mary's Grade School and Central High Public School in Aberdeen.
Margaret entered Sacred Heart Monastery on Aug. 31, 1935. She was invested as a novice on June 23, 1936, and received the name Rachel. She made her first profession on June 24, 1937, and made her final profession on June 23, 1940.
S. Rachel served as an elementary teacher for many years. She began her ministry at Sacred Heart School in Yankton and went on to serve in Webster, Stephan, Sioux Falls, Salem and Hoven, all in South Dakota; Richardton in North Dakota; and Hartington, St. James, Omaha and Lincoln, all in Nebraska. She began teaching in 1937, and took college courses during the summers. She received her BA from Mount Marty College on Aug. 4, 1963. During her career, she taught all grades from second to eighth grade. After leaving education, she served as the Sacristan for Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel for a number of years. This ministry gave her extra time for prayer, and she offered hospitality to visitors to the chapel.
S. Rachel was a woman with a ready smile and kind nature. She collected jokes and loved sharing them with others. She is survived by her Benedictine community and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings.