1922-2008   

Reflections on the Life of Sister Stephanie Rose

By Sister Sally Thompson

In these reflections I have tried to capture the essence of my dear friend and sister, Stephanie Rose Stemberger.

 Stephanie was born on November 18, 1922 in Arcata, California of Croatian parents, Mary Fidel and Matt Stemberger, both of whom were immigrants from Yugoslavia, At her baptism she was given the name Zorka, meaning Dawn. She was educated in public schools from first grade through college in her beloved Arcata among the redwoods. She received her deep faith from her mother and later from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange CCD classes.

 Stephanie had an ear for languages and could understand Croatian much more than she could speak it. She was fiercely proud of her heritage and always expressed a special interest in adults or children, if they had a Croatian surname. During these formative years she was an active member of the tight-knit Croatian community among whom she made life-long friends.

 In her personal notes, Zorka tells us that her father died when she was fourteen and her mother eventually remarried a widower, Nick Warren, also from Arcata and also Croation. Her step-father had three sons, Bill, Walter and Ed. The youngest, Ed, worked at Holy Names High School under Sister Ignatia Mary before joining the Jesuit Order. Through him she learned about the Sisters of the Holy Names and the seeds of her vocation began to blossom.

 Zorka, began her teaching career in Ontario, California, then moved to Millbrae. She made friends with other young teachers and three of them rented a small house and had many happy times together. Where ever Zorka lived or worked, she made loyal friends and valued them above all else. She always kept in touch.

 Sister Stephanie entered the novitiate in Oakland, California on July 21, 1951 at the age of 28. She was named to teach the seventh grade at Our Lady of Lourdes School as a postulant. In her notes she says that some of the students brought her flowers which she carefully arranged on her desk. After all, she frequently kept flowers on her desk when she taught in public schools. The second day of school, Sister Cecilia, the principal, called her into her office and told her, gently but firmly, "Sister Mary, we do not put flowers on our desk; they must be displayed in front of the Blessed Mother." Immediately she went to her classroom and removed the offending flowers. Sister made her first profession in August of 1953.

Over the course of her active life, Sister Stephanie Rose, taught or served as an administrator in many of our schools: St. Mary's Boyle Heights, St. Francis de Sales, All Souls, Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas, St. Stephen's, and for the first time at St. Monica's, San Francisco. At this point Sister received her M.A. in Education from the University of San Francisco. She continued her ministry at Raskob Institute, St. Cecilia's, St. Bede's and the best is last, she and I were Co-principals at St. Monica School for fifteen years. When we withdrew from administration, Stephanie worked in the school library, which she had computerized, and prepared children from grades three to eight to receive First Communion and Reconciliation, if they and their parents expressed an interest. This was an on-going project. She also supervised altar servers and kept them on their toes.

 In 2002 after over fifty years in education, Stephanie felt it was time to retire to her much loved Convent here at Los Gatos, She often asked me when I was going to join her. True to her nature, Stephanie acquired several ministries here at the Convent: She opened the e-mail, passed mail, acted as receptionist, assisted Ellen Fattal, our Activity Director, with baking for various celebrations and whipped the library into shape. She told me that she first began to assist in libraries when she was in high school and continued in college to help with her tuition. She always loved library work.

 Many times when I was walking here in the halls beside her, she would stop to introduce me to someone from the care center or from the kitchen or one of the housekeepers and tell them that we had been co-principals for fifteen years and then lived together for another eight. I told her that I met the same people at least once a month and that made her laugh. Her friendship was always a very special gift to me and I am sure to others. I think she has more friends than anyone I know. She was all inclusive and nothing delighted her more than to share her friends. When her friends rejoiced, she rejoiced and when her friends were sad, she was most compassionate and sad with them. Some of her special friends are here tonight to celebrate her life.

 Stephanie also had a very special place in her heart for her step-brothers, sisters-in-law and her nieces and nephews. She was very interested in their achievements and in their day to day lives. Stephanie always spoke very highly of them and I know she felt sad when she could no longer share holidays at their homes, but they were always in her prayers.

 In notes sent to the convent, sisters remarked about her prayerfulness, her cheerfulness and her welcoming spirit.

 Finally her long-time friend, Sister Helen O'Sullivan, with whom she had regular Tuesday outings wrote some beautiful reflections:

Yes… “Zorka” was an unusual name, but she was an unusual person!

 My mother, Mary O’Sullivan, was the first to tell me that Zorka Stemberger was entering our community.  In 1951 they met and became friends as members of the Young Ladies Institute in San Bruno.  At that time Zorka was a teacher for the public schools, later becoming a superintendent in the system.

 That same year Zorka Stemberger entered our Holy Names community soon to be known as Sister Stephanie Rose.

  Throughout her life Stephanie was the gracious lady who welcomed people into her presence with a warm endearing manner. If you were her guest in the convent, you were treated with gracious hospitality.  Oftentimes her guests enjoyed delicious treats and cookies which Stephanie had baked, or perhaps be served one of her elegant gourmet dinners.  This was her way of welcoming.

 Stephanie loved people.  It was not unusual for her to spend time with friends and strangers, accepting each person with kindness and interest in a nonjudgmental manner.  As a patient her concern was always for others and her nurses. It was not unusual for a nurse or a janitor to receive a precious note of gratitude and appreciation from Stephanie.  It was her way of loving and being.

 During her more recent years Stephanie tolerated serious health problems with never a complaint.  Although restricted because of illness, she did not limit herself to her room, but met each day by driving off in her “Jag” to meet her various occupations.  Her love of books took her to the convent library where she catalogued and acquired the latest books of interest for the sisters.  For special celebrations her culinary talents were put to work baking and creating delicious cookies and sweet delicacies. Her many gifts and talents continued to keep on giving!

 Thank you, Zorka – what a blessing

you have been to your family, friends, and community! 

Now you are free of all pain and are in the loving arms of your God.