Sister Aline Mohrhaus

Quick-witted, creative, loved children and teaching

Robert and Flora (Alerding) Mohrhaus of Cincinnati, Ohio, welcomed daughter Aline on April 29, 1930,the first of their three daughters and one son. While she was growing up, her family moved many times, but as a junior and senior in high school, she had the Sisters of St. Joseph at Sacred Heart in Indianapolis.

Her family claimed several religious: her mother’s sister was a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Herman Joseph, and their brother was a Franciscan priest; her father’s sister was an Oldenburg Franciscan. Their brother was a Brother of Mary. (Aline’s brother was in the seminary.) During her first two years of high school, she had Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She found it difficult to choose between the Notre Dame Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph. However, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1948, and was received into the novitiate as Sister Mary Bonaventure (1949). Her bachelor’s degree in elementary education was from Fontbonne College (1959) and she earned a master’s degree as a reading specialist from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (1974).

Sister Aline taught primary elementary students at St. Joseph Industrial School, Keshena, Wisconsin (1951). She then went to St. Louis, where she taught at Immacolata
(1952), St. Margaret of Scotland (1954) and St. Jude (1960). Next, she taught at St. Louis, Waco, Texas (1963); St. Anthony of Padua, St. Louis (1967); St. Elizabeth, Kansas City, Missouri (1969); St. Mary, Bridgeton, Missouri (1971); St. Michael, Marquette, Michigan (1980); St. Clare of Assisi, Ellisville, Missouri (1981); St. Cletus, St. Charles, Missouri (1983); and Our Lady of Lourdes, Raytown, Missouri (1985).

We shared community ... in Missouri, Michigan, and Texas ... Our favorite trip was ... to work at Lourdes, France, putting pilgrims into the baths. We loved Masses at the grotto and the candlelight processions at night. I will be forever grateful for the gift her life was to me, my family, and all who knew her. -S. Barbara Volk

In 1992, S. Aline went on a sabbatical at Holistic Resource Center, Little Falls, in Minnesota. Next S. Aline ministered in Kansas City, Missouri, as a teacher’s aide at St. Thomas More (1994), then a kindergarten teacher in the same school (1998), and a volunteer aide at St. Teresa’s Academy, Kansas City, Missouri (2000). Beginning in 2001, she enjoyed a dual role as both a volunteer teacher at St. Thomas More and as a licensed massage therapist until she moved to Nazareth Living Center in 2009.

She had a great curiosity! She particularly was interested in stones/gems and UFOs. Well, this was right up my son Gabe’s ally. He is a professional silversmith and always in to paranormal and extraterrestrials. I decided that these two must meet! ... These two began to talk and it became clear very quickly that I was not a part of this conversation! -A. Gerry Rauch

S. Aline had a fondness for nature, especially animals and flowers. Sister enjoyed sharing stories about the antics of her friends' dogs ... she deeply appreciated the beauty of the various flowers in the gardens of the Nazareth campus. - A. Patrick McDowell

Everyone knew her love of the children and her ever-present humor ... Aline searched for a sense of community. She was well received in the Kansas City Medaille Community where she brought a sense of joy and companionship to the members. When absent from a gathering, folks commented on how they missed her presence and her sharing ... and wise cracks!

During her years of retirement she exhibited a desire to grow in her faith and love… these past weeks her hope/desire became more apparent to the extent that she was anticipating her final moments here. Her spirit seemed to be crying out: ‘I am waiting for the One who is waiting for me.’ - S. Marilyn Peot