Sister M. Rainette

Born: February 11, 1936
Entrance: January 28, 1956
Professed: October 28, 1958
Died: July 31, 2026

Our Sister always felt safe and secure in God’s hands. Now she has returned her life into God’s hands: Sister M. Rainette, née Helga Schwager, Hospital Sister of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.

My time is in your hands. Now I can be at peace, at peace in you.

(Hymn, “Gotteslob”)

Sister M. Rainette could look back on 90 years of life. In her memoirs, she tells us: “I was born in Breslau in Silesia (now Poland). Our mother had to flee with us three children. My brother and I contracted typhus at a refugee camp in East Frisia. Later, we moved to Oberhausen-Osterfeld, where I got to know our Congregation at the hospital during a one-year internship. I entered our Congregation at the age of 20. I am grateful to my mother for having so bravely endured the ordeal of fleeing with us three children. I am also grateful that I was able to care for sick children for many years, and then go on to work in geriatric care.”

For Sister M. Reinette, the years she spent caring for sick children in Sendenhorst, Moers, and Osterfeld were formative. She then joined the newly founded convent in Werne and took on pastoral duties at St. Katharina Nursing Home. Later, she moved to Seppenrade, where she continued to perform small tasks and played the organ at St. Josef-Haus. After the convent was dissolved, she returned to the Motherhouse in Münster, where she delighted the Sisters—both there and at St. Heriburg House—with her many talents. She especially enjoyed doing crafts, and took great pleasure in giving away her beautiful Christmas stars and other handmade items.

Six weeks ago, due to illness, Sister M. Rainette herself became a resident of St. Heriburg House , where she prepared herself for God’s coming bravely and with steadfastness. In the presence of her fellow Sisters, she peacefully entrusted her earthly life into God’s hands, just as the hymn describes which she had chosen for her funeral.

We bid Sister M. Rainette a grateful farewell. In prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist, we remember her and remain united with her in sisterly love.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, we will bid farewell to Sister M. Rainette during the Resurrection Service at 2 p.m. in the Motherhouse Church and accompany her to her final resting place in the Sisters’ cemetery.