The third oldest of six children was born to Hilda (Ostdiek) and Richard Rempe on May 12, 1938. The little girl was born at home on the family farm near Lawrence, Nebraska. She was baptized on May 14, 1938, at St. Stephen's Church and named Luella Rose. Three brothers and two sisters would complete the Rempe family.
The family later moved from the farm to Lawrence. When she was five years old, Luella began her education at Sacred Heart School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. As a young teenager, she began doing the shopping for the Sisters and would deliver their daily mail to them. This contact with the Sisters enabled her to observe how women consecrated to God could live happily together. After the eighth-grade graduation exercises, she told the Sisters that she wanted to become one of them.
Her parents consented to her entrance into the Aspiranture at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis, for her high school education. By spending a summer studying at Notre Dame in Quincy, Illinois, Luella was able to finish the requirements for graduation in three years.
She received the candidate bonnet at her home parish on Aug. 31, 1954. She was received into the novitiate on Aug. 2, 1955, and given the name, Mary Richardine in honor of her father. She professed first vows on Aug. 3, 1956, and final vows on Aug. 3, 1962.
Sister Richardine earned a bachelor's degree in history from the former Notre Dame College, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1964 and a master's degree in elementary education from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois in 1971.
During her 57 years of ministering in Catholic education, Sister Richardine spent 19 years teaching primary children at St. Anthony, Knoxville, Iowa (1956-1967), St. Anthony, Effingham, Illinois (1967-1970), and St. Hilary, Pico Rivera, California (1983-1988).
She was an elementary principal for 38 years, serving at St. Anthony, Effingham, Illinois (1970-1977), St. Marianne de Paredes (1977-1983), and St. Hilary, Pico Rivera, California (1988-2013). She ministered in the schools in Pico Rivera, California, for 36 years, from 1977-2013. In 2013, she continued to do volunteer service at various places in Los Angeles, California.
In 2001, she was honored as the "Educational Enrichment" honoree for the 'I am Pico Rivera' program. The program honors individuals who exemplify the best of community service and volunteerism.
After surgery in 2020, Sister Richardine moved to the Mirada Hills Rehabilitation and Convalescent Hospital, now Sunny Hills Post-Acute, in La Mirada, California. She entered hospice care on Dec. 6, 2024. Sister Richardine died on Dec. 10, 2024, with Sister Gilda Bruce and Associate Anna Nuckles at her side. Her funeral liturgy will be held on Jan. 20, 2025, at St. Marianne de Paredes Church in Pico Rivera, California, and burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Rosemead, California, on Jan. 21, 2025.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Richard H. and Hilda Rempe; her sister and brother-in-law, Geraldine and Maurice Kroening; her brother and sister-in-law, Richard J. and Caroline Rempe; her brother, Father Melvin Rempe; niece, Monica Seifried; and great-niece, Calin Coates.
Surviving her are her sister and brother-in-law, Rosemary and Dan Martin of Jacksonville, Florida; her brother and sister-in-law, Vern and Doris Rempe of Grand Island, Nebraska; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials, in memory of Sister Richardine, may be sent to: School Sisters of Notre Dame-Resource Development, 320 East Ripa Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63125
Reader Comments(0)