In Loving Memory
Sister Barbara Ann (Antoinette) Tushar, OSB, 85, St. Scholastica Monastery, died Monday, August 27, 2007, in Benet Hall at the Monastery. She was born September 27, 1921, in Elcor (Gilbert), Minnesota, and graduated from Stanbrook High School in Duluth, Minnesota. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The College St. Scholastica, and received certification for elementary education from the State of Minnesota.
She entered the Duluth Benedictine community in 1939 and professed monastic vows in 1941. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee August 15, 1966, her Golden Jubilee July 28, 1991, and her Diamond Jubilee August 12, 2001. She was in the 66th year of her monastic profession.
In 1941 Sister Barbara Ann began teaching primary grades at St. Clement’s and later at St. Lawrence’s and St. John’s, all Duluth schools. In the Duluth Diocese she also taught primary grades in Grand Rapids at St. Joseph’s School and in Hibbing at St. Leo’s. Outside the Diocese, she taught in Cincinnati at Our Mother of Sorrows School and in Chicago at St. Timothy’s School. From 1964-1969 she served as a house parent at St. James Children’s Home, Duluth, and from 1970-1972 she was a teacher and prefect at St. Gertrude’s School n Washington, D.C. In 1992 she retired from full-time teaching and tutored at St. Bridget’s School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and helped with food service for St. Bridget’s Convent.
Sister Barbara Ann returned to St. Scholastica Monastery in 1993 where she served part-time in the Monastery food service and assisted with craft work for the Monastery gift shop until 2000.
Those who worked with or lived with her noted her creativity in art, teaching, and cooking. Shortly after she entered the novitiate, her novice director became ill and was hospitalized. Sister Barbara Ann drew clever, funny cartoons which were delivered regularly to her director. They were intended to amuse her and to let her know what events were taking place in the novitiate while she was away. She made beautiful cards and attractive classroom bulletin boards and was an exceptional teacher for the mentally disabled students at St. Gertrude’s School in Washington, D.C. She boosted their self-esteem greatly by teaching them how to read. Sister Barbara Ann loved cooking so much that, after a full day of cooking at the Monastery, she would go home to the West End where she was living at the time and cook the evening meal there as well.
Sister Barbara Ann was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Gertrude (Yerasha), four brothers, John, Paul, William, and Frank; three sisters, Mary Pirjevec, Gertrude Zakrajsek, and Sister Sylvia Tushar, OSB. In addition to the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by one sister, Dolores Schweiger of Gilbert, a sister-in-law, Julie Tushar, and many nephews and nieces.
A wake service was held Thursday, August 30, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, St. Scholastica Monastery, with visitation until 10:45 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. Her nephew, Father David Tushar, presided. Interment was in Gethsemane Cemetery.
MINISTRIES
Education
- St. Clement’s, Duluth, MN
- St. Lawrence’s, Duluth, MN
- St. John’s, Duluth, MN
- St. Joseph’s, Grand Rapids, MN
- St. Leo’s, Hibbing, MN
- Our Mother of Sorrows’, Cincinnati, Ohio
- St. Timothy’s, Chicago, IL
- St. Bridget’s, Minneapolis, MN
Education/Social Service
- House Parent, St. James Children’s Home, Duluth, MN
- Teacher and Prefect, St. Gertrude’s, Washington, DC
Food Service
- St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN
- St. Bridget’s Convent, Minneapolis, MN
Prayer Ministry