Age 94
Sister Julie Reinschmidt was a Sister of Mercy for 75 years. A life-long educator, from 1949 to 1978 Sister Julie taught middle grade students in elementary schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. In 1978 she left formal education transitioning her skills as an educator to ministry in parish service. During this time, she earned a master’s degree in religious education.
She moved to the Portland, Oregon area in 1995 to be with a brother who was in declining health. At that time, she took up residence with the Sisters of the Holy Names at Marylhurst near Portland, where she worked as Activities Coordinator in the Sisters’ Care Center. With the completion of Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst, she continued her ministry to residents in assisted living as a volunteer and was an active participant in the resident community. In her last years, she was compassionately cared for by the staff of Mary’s Woods. Sister Julie will be remembered for her quick wit and sense of humor and for her kindness and supportive mentoring. She loved nature and was a keen observer of birds, a knowledge she readily shared. She brought her love of the outdoors to her ministry and was always finding ways to bring the outdoors inside to those she ministered to in assisted living.