Sister Roberta J. Schmidt,

Gracious, attentive, dear friend

Ernest and Florence (Noonan) Schmidt, of Kansas City, Missouri, welcomed Roberta Jean, the first of their three daughters on May 9, 1928. Roberta attended Redemptorist grade and high school.

As a student at the College of St. Teresa, she met Sister John Marie Riley whom she considered a major influence in her life. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on September 15, 1949. On March 19, 1950, she received the habit and the name, Sister Ernest Marie. Her master’s (1958) and doctorate (1964) in sociology were both awarded from St. Louis University.

Sister Roberta taught intermediate grades in St. Louis at St. Margaret of Scotland (1952) and St. Agnes (1953). Moving to high school, she taught at St. Thomas Aquinas, Florissant (1954), followed by Vallé High School, Ste. Genevieve (1955) and then, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Louis (1956). In 1961, she began her doctoral studies in sociology at St. Louis University. She was a faculty member at Fontbonne College (1962) until she became college president (1966).

In 1965, she responded to Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to the march in Selma, Alabama. S. Rosemary Flanigan also remembers that time:

Three of us were living on St. Agnes' second floor, each of us writing our dissertations, and one night Sister Roberta knocked on my door to ask if I would go with her and the St. Louis delegation the next day to Selma. She was a member of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese and had been asked ... When "Sisters of Selma" was being created ... [Sister Roberta] is pictured on the tape making her statement about why she came. Sister Roberta said, 'The presence of priests, religious and the laity impacted the peaceful march for voting rights positively. We gave Christian witness to the dignity of our African-American brothers and sisters in Selma.'

After spending 1972 in transition, S. Roberta moved to Texas to serve as a staff member for United Colleges of San Antonio (1973). She moved to Cullman, Alabama, in 1975 and became the vice president for Academic Affairs at St. Bernard College followed by dean for Academic Affairs at Southern Benedictine College (1976). She spent 1979 in transition while working on an archives special project.

Her next home was Atlanta, Georgia, where she served in the Archdiocesan Education Office. During her time there, she was the superintendent of Catholic schools (1980), secretary for education and superintendent (1982,) and secretary for education (1989).

Then, she served the Diocese of Venice, Florida, as the director of education (1993). In 1996, S. Roberta also accepted the ministry of provincial councilor. Completing her ministry as director of education (2008) in Venice, Florida, she retired there while continuing to serve the dear neighbor as a volunteer. Returning to St. Louis in 2017, she volunteered until her health no longer allowed that opportunity.

Sister Barbara Dreher shares,

I got to know Roberta when she served as one of four councilors … when Suzanne Giblin, Paulette Gladis and I were in full-time province leadership ... She listened more than spoke, but when she did, wisdom splashed all over our meeting table. Her comments, wonderings and questions had a way of disturbing our thinking and keeping us grounded in being open to God’s wisdom.

Remembering S. Roberta is not complete without mentioning Sister Mary (Mickey) Jacobs, who shared many years in community with her as a dear friend and companion.

Sister Helen Oates