Elizabeth SISTER

Sister Elizabeth Ann Schaefer formerly Sister Bonaventure died of cancer on Tuesday December 23 2003 at the age of 69. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Nell Schaefer. Sister Libby as she was known entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron from Johnstown PA on August 15 1952. She taught elementary school for eleven years in the Cleveland and Youngstown Dioceses. In 1966 she was assigned to serve on the Cleveland Mission Team to El Salvador where she was involved in religious education on the parish and diocesan level. In 1968 she co-founded El Castano a training center for campesinos who would become catechists and community leaders in the Diocese of San Miguel El Salvador. This center was the first of five such centers that would open in El Salvador in the ensuing years. Returning to the States in 1971 Sister Libby worked among the Spanish speaking of Clevelands Near West Side and began the office for Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland in 1976. In 1979 she began studies for a Masters in Theology at Aquinas Institute in Dubuque Iowa which were completed in 1981. In 1981 she was elected to the Executive Council of the Akron Dominicans and from 1984-93 she served as President of the Congregation. In May 1988 she was award an honorary degree of Doctor of Human Services by Walsh College of Canton Ohio. In 1993 she became Executive Director of the (national) Dominican Leadership Conference based in River Forest Illinois. During her tenure there the first steps were taken toward the formation of the Dominican Alliance the Dominican Federation and the Dominican Communicators Network. In December 1996 she was one of the five chosen by the Catholic Commission of Akron to receive the first Bishop Anthony M. Pilla Leadership Award for being chairperson of the Organization from 1985-88. Sister Libby was the recipient of the Woman of the Year Award Womens History Project in Akron in 1989. From 1990-92 she was chair of the Conference of Religious Leadership in the Cleveland Diocese. In 1997 Sister Elizabeth Ann became Resource Coordinator for Church in the City Project for the Cleveland Diocese. She was again elected to leadership for the Akron Dominicans in December 2000 to a four-year term. Sister Libby was a member of many boards and gave numerous talks especially on social justice. Sister Libby was preceded in death by her parents brothers George William Joseph and James. She is survived by two brothers Edward of Cleveland and Fr. Thomas of Dittmer Missouri; many nieces and nephews grandnieces and grandnephews; and special cousin Rosemary Horn and her husband John. Calling hours will be at Our Lady of the Elms Convent 1230 W. Market St. Akron Ohio on Friday December 26 from 2:00-7:00 with Wake Service at 4:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Sebastian Church 476 Mull Ave. Akron on Saturday December 27 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Our Lady of the Elms-Sisters of St. Dominic Foundation.