Sister Mary Rose Zimmerer, CDP, entered eternal life on April 29, 2018 at the age of 95. She was one of thirteen children born to Herman and Rose Kuhn Zimmerer.  Sister Mary Rose was born in Lindsay, Texas; her baptismal name was Mildred.  She answered God's call to become a Sister of Divine Providence on September 6, 1941 and professed first vows on June 22, 1945.  Sister Mary Rose began her ministerial life as a sixth grade teacher at Immaculate Conception School in Houston, Texas.

She was school teacher and served as principal in various schools in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma from 1945 until 1974.  Her next ministry as Director of Religious Education was a blessing to many parishes.  An article in the "Sacred Heart Messenger" (Abilene, Texas, October 1978) described the benefit of her vision, organizational skills and hands-on approach.

Sister Mary Rose was concerned with how the emphasis on competition in today's society did not allow children to be children.  She established religious programs that were non-competitive and which served as havens for children and teens to flourish.  No child could fail but rather be brought to a greater awareness of his/her religion.  She once said, "The three key words in the church's teaching philosophy are message, community and service."  The message of the Gospel is "integrated in word and deed" when one develops and deepens a person's spirituality.  The result is "the building of community (Christian fellowship) and the fulfillment of the imperatives of social justice..."

Sister Mary Rose was a person who valued relationships and lived out the mission of Jesus by never knowing a stranger.  She enjoyed returning to parishes and enrolling the next generation of former students into a parish's religious education program.  During her retirement years, she made friends with fellow patients in doctors' offices and used her waiting time to say the rosary for them and the staff.  She wrote a poem, "The Children Remember" when the Sisters of Divine Providence left Lindsay, Texas after 104 years of ministry – the words seem fitting as we bid her farewell:  "Your smile, your encouraging words we see and hear no more."  We will miss your stories Sister Mary Rose and await all those that will unfold through the many people you befriended.

She is survived by her brother, William (Billy) Zimmerer and sister-in-law, Marcella Zimmerer; her four sisters, Marie Zimmerer, Agnes Betzen, Sister Barbara Zimmerer, CDP, Betty Hellman; and all her Sisters of Divine Providence.  She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Rose Zimmerer and siblings, Sister Herman Mary Zimmerer, CDP; Bernard and sister-in-law, Ruth; Frank and sister-in-law, Lucille; Clarence and sister-in-law, Charlotte; twin brothers Alvin and Alcuin; and brother-in-law, Glenn Hellman.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

The Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and
the Wake will be at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

A Mass of Resurrection will be offered
at 11:00 a.m.

*All services will be in Annunciation Chapel at

Our Lady of the Lake Convent Center

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to

make a memorial contribution to the

Sisters of Divine Providence

515 S.W. 24th Street

San Antonio, TX 78207-4619