Sister Mary Consuela Schmidt, 86, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, was a teacher in Chicago-area parochial elementary and high schools for more than 40 years.
A resident of McAuley Manor in Aurora, she died there Thursday.
Sister Consuela entered the convent in 1927. She taught math and physics in a number of elementary schools in Chicago and at the former Siena High School on the West Side and at St. Patrick Academy in Des Plaines.
”She was a strong teacher,” Sister Brenda Finnegan said. ”She could communicate knowledge to students. She had a great concern for them, and discipline was not a problem in her classroom.”
After Sister Consuela retired in 1970, she assisted in the business office of Mother McAuley High School on the South Side.
She then moved into McAuley Manor, a retirement community for lay people and for the Sisters of Mercy.
”Although she lost her vision and could see only shadows,” Sister Brenda said, ”she continued to keep trying to meet people and to help by going out to other residents a great deal. For example, we have a resident here who is 106 years old, is blind and has no living relatives in the area. Sister Consuela made it a point to go and visit her regularly.”
Survivors include a sister, Florence.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at McAuley Manor, 400 W. Sullivan Rd., Aurora.
Mass for Sister Consuela will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the chapel there.
