Sister Mary Bonita

Sister Mary Bonita                            ND 6103                          PDF Download

Formerly Sister Mary Joellyn

Bonita Ann Schack

Immaculate Conception Province, USA

Date and Place of Birth                   June 2, 1945             California, KY
Date and Place of Profession        August 16, 1967       Covington, KY
Date and Place of Death                January 22, 2022     Covington, KY
Date and Place of Burial                January 27, 2022     Covington, KY

Sister Mary Bonita was the child of Joseph and Mildred (Bezold) Schack. She grew up on her parents’ farm along with her sister, Kathy, and her brothers, Alvin and Bill.  She enjoyed attending her parish grade school, Sts. Peter and Paul, and then Bishop Brossart High School in Alexandria, Kentucky. A year after graduation, Bonita discerned that God was inviting her to follow him as a Sister of Notre Dame, and she entered the community in August 1964.

Sister continued her education, receiving her BA in Education from Thomas More University, and her MA in Education from Xavier University. Sister Bonita also completed a program in religious studies at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia in preparation for her role as religion teacher.  She enjoyed many years of teaching intermediate grades in the Covington and Lexington Dioceses.  Sister also served as Director of Religious Education at both St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs, Kentucky, and St. Agnes Parish, Ft. Wright, Kentucky. Later she was called upon to study at the Institute of Religious Formation in Chicago, Illinois, to help build her community’s formation program. She felt it widened her appreciation for all religious communities.

Sister Bonita’s last and most beloved ministry was serving as a religion teacher and academic support teacher at St. Agnes School, Ft. Wright, Kentucky.  She served in St. Agnes parish for 26 years across her professional career.  Her love of teaching children and instilling confidence in them was very special to her heart. She was truly thankful for sharing God’s gift of love with her students, her family, and her SND community.

Sister went home to God peacefully on January 22, 2022.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Kathy.  She is survived by her brothers, Alvin and Bill Schack.

Visitation was from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at The Church of St. Agnes, 1680 Dixie Highway, Ft. Wright, Kentucky, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment in the convent cemetery at St. Joseph Heights, 1601 Dixie Highway, Covington, Kentucky followed the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Thursday morning, January 27, 2022.

Sister Mary Bonita will be forever remembered for her smile and warm-heartedness that touched all whom she met.  May she live in joy and peace in God’s loving embrace for all eternity.