Benedictine sister was teacher, principal in Omaha archdiocese

Sister Marita Schweiger, a member of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, who served at schools in the Omaha archdiocese as well as with her religious community, died March 4 at the order’s monastery in Norfolk. She was 90.
A funeral Mass was held March 6 at the Immaculata Monastery Chapel, with burial in Prospect Hill Cemetery, also in Norfolk.
Born and raised in Munich, Germany, Sister Marita entered religious life in Tutzing, Germany, in 1953 and became a postulant in 1954. She was sent to the Norfolk priory in 1954 and made her first profession of vows there in 1956. She professed final vows in 1959.
Following graduation from Creighton University in Omaha, Sister Marita taught at St. Leonard School in Madison and the former Assumption Academy (the all-girls Catholic School operated by the Benedictine Sisters) in Norfolk. She also taught at St. Augustine School in Winnebago, where she went on to serve as principal from 1965 to 1969.
Sister Marita taught for the next 15 years at a high school in Inkamana, South Africa, then spent a year in Rome studying theology at Regina Mundi College. She returned to the Benedictine community in Norfolk in 1986, serving as a sacristan, seamstress, organist and visitor to elderly people in their homes or nursing facilities until 2018.
“Sr. Marita was devout and prayerful, always trusting God’s care for her,” according to a written tribute by her community. “She always enjoyed a good game of Canasta and had a ready laugh,” the tribute said.