Paula Rae Schmidt

Sister Paula Schmidt, OSsR, of the Redemptoristine Nuns, peacefully clasped the hands of the Holy Redeemer and his Mother, Mary, and is now reunited with her family and friends in heaven. She died in the Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill, NY, on July 10, 2026 at the age of 96.

Sister Paula was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 2, 1930 to Valentine and Marsades (McLaughlin) Schmidt. She is predeceased by her siblings J. Robert (Catherine), Roderick (Bernice), Judith Palmer (George), Thomas, Mary Robach (Kenneth). She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. She is also survived by her community Sisters Maria Paz Suarez, Mary Jane Stefanik and Moira Quinn, Associates and treasured friends.

She was baptized in St. Alphonsus Redemptorist Parish. Thanks to her large, loving, religious-minded family, young Paula was playful but also had a deep longing to have God in the center of her life.

Sister Paula attended Catholic Central High School and Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and worked as a soda jerk at the local pharmacy. In 1950, she left college on Easter Saturday to enter the new English-speaking foundation of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptoristine Nuns) in Toronto, Canada. The nuns striking red, white and blue habit symbolizes God’s abundant mercy and pure love. This set them apart, not only visually, but the contemplative monastic charism spoke to this young woman’s heart who took the name Sister Mary Peter of Jesus at her first profession on May 3, 1952.

On December 8,1957, she, with five other sisters, made the first foundation of Redemptoristines in the United States located on the property of Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY. When they first arrived, Sister Paula was Mistress of Novices. Over the years, she also served as Councilor, Prioress, sewed Redemptorist habits and offered spiritual direction. After Vatican II, in 1967, she participated in forming the Association of Contemplative Sisters: a group which fostered both lay and religious women on their contemplative journey. In 1969, she, and members of other monasteries in the area, helped form the Metropolitan Association of Contemplative Communities to support each other as they pondered their way of life in the changing times of the Church and the world.

When Sister Paula went home to care for her aging mother, she continued her education at Aquinas College studying Literature and Psychology. She was given 30 credits for life experience in the monastery and graduated in 1982. While in Grand Rapids she worked part-time in a nursing home to learn how to care for the elderly.

A great letter writer, Sister Paula corresponded for many years with a man imprisoned and, with a circle of friends, helped gain his release in 2018 after 30 years of incarceration.

Sister Paula was an avid reader of spiritual books and the Commonweal magazine, as well as novels. She enjoyed studying the writing of our Foundress, Bl. M. Celeste Crostarosa and St. Alphonsus Liguori and sharing the charism. She also had a strong competitive side, whether playing table tennis or Scrabble.

Sister Paula’s quiet, steady presence at meetings was a source of wisdom at many a Redemptoristine General Assembly in Italy. But most important to her was her life of prayer to which she dedicated many long hours. She was especially devoted to the Holy Redeemer and Our Mother of Perpetual Help in remembering her family, friends and the world in prayer. Sister Paula died as she lived: a woman of great faith.

Wake and Mass of the Resurrection Thursday, July 30, 2026 Wake: 10:00 am Mass: 11:00 am Our Lady of the Rosary Convent 175 Route 340 Sparkill, NY 10976

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/new-city-ny/paula-schmidt-12963554