‘Sister Rosey’ provided joy with songs and sense of humor
As director of a private school arts program, Sister Rosemarie Schwartz directed middle school musicals, coached young actors and taught music students to perform with confidence. “Sister Rosey,” as she was called, was herself a talented musician, but friends and family members said her greatest gift was being comfortable in her own skin and letting others know it was OK to be themselves, too.
Sister Rosemarie, 61, died Saturday following a battle with renal cancer that had spread to her lungs.
The last of 11 children born to John and Helen Yaksitz Schwartz in working-class Nazareth, in eastern Pennsylvania, she learned at a young age that humor goes a long way in helping people to help themselves.
“It goes back to our mother,” said her brother Jim Schwartz, of Philadelphia. “Although she had all these kids, whatever was going on in the neighborhood, [Mom] was always baking for it and going to meetings. Our mother made providing service to the community a majorpart of the family.”
The mindset continued in his siblings’ adult lives, said Mr. Schwartz, a school psychologist.
“We’re all teachers or musiciansor something and people who are willing to help out,” he said. “Everyone is still involved in the church and the family. My sister ran back and forth across the state many times each year. She didn’t miss many family events.”
Forher high school graduation, Sister Rosemarie’s parentsgave her a high-end handcrafted acoustic six-string Martin guitar, made at the company’s headquarters in Nazareth. The gift sparked a fascination with music that grew into a ministry, which continuedthroughout her life.
Sister Rosemarie kept her secular name when she entered the Roman Catholic Federationof the Sisters of St. Joseph.
She served in various capacities in Pittsburgh at St. Canice in Knoxville from 1981 to 1984, and Church of the Annunciation on the North Side from 1981 to 1989. Herparish work continued at Our Lady of Peace in Conway, Beaver County, from 1989 to 1993, and for five years she was a counselor and therapist for Gateway Rehabilitation Centers. She was director of fine arts at Mount Gallitzin Academy in Baden, and from 2009 until she became ill, she was the music and drama teacher at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Shadyside.
“She had an infectious sense of joy,” said Stephanie Rooney of Ohio Township, who remained friends with Sister Rosemarie after her children ended studies at Mount Gallitzin. “She was a prankster. She was born on April Fools’ Day and was always able to bring fun to the moment.”
Ms. Moore said Sister Rosemarie had an ability to make people feel comfortable aboutthemselves.
“Whatever your problem, she brought dignity to your struggle,” she said. “She could join in the celebration, and in hard times she had an infectious sense of joy. She let you know you’re weren’t alone.”
Sister Rosemarie is survived by brothers Joseph Schwartz and Andrew Schwartz of Bethlehem, Pa., James Schwartz of Philadelphia, John Schwartz and Jerome Schwartz of Nazareth, Pa., and Frank Schwartz of Manchester, Pa. She also is survived by three sisters, Marian Gaumer, Helen Millerand Julie Bender, all of Nazareth.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Motherhouse Chapel at Sistersof St. Joseph in Baden.