SINSINAWA — Sr. Baptist Stohrer, OP, died Aug. 31, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. The funeral Mass was held at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Sept. 4, followed by burial of the cremains in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Baptist made her first religious profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Feb. 3, 1947, and her perpetual profession Aug. 5, 1950. She primarily taught music in elementary and high schools for 20 years before beginning a 40-year tenure in music at Rosary College/Dominican University, River Forest, Ill. Sister Baptist ministered as a liturgist for one year and in administration at Villa Schifanoia, Florence, Italy, for one year. A former student described her “as always pleasant and easy to learn from.” She served in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Baptist taught music at St. Raphael, Madison, 1947-1949, and at Edgewood Campus School, Edgewood High School, and Edgewood College, all Madison, 1962-1970.
Sister Baptist was born April 13, 1927, in Urbana, Ill., the daughter of Walter and Elvera (Glanzner) Stohrer. She attended St. Mark Grade School, Peoria, Ill., for eight years and Holy Name High School, Omaha, Neb., for four years, graduating in 1944. Her parents and a brother, the Rev. Walter “Wally” Stohrer, S.J., preceded her in death. She is survived by cousins and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared 73 years of religious life.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or at www.sinsinawa.org/donate online.
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Baptist are available online at www.sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.