Sister Anita Schulte, SC, age 87, in the 65th year of her religious life.

SISTER ANITA SCHULTE, SC, age 87, was called home to God on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in the 65^th year of her religious life. Sister Anita entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1958, from Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Brooklyn, NY.   

Born on December 17, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY, Sister Anita was always proud to be a first-generation German-American citizen.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Ella (Pluschau) Schulte, and a brother, Robert H. Schulte, DDS. She is survived by cousins her godson Paul Raimondo, many friends, and her religious community. 

Sister Anita earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and a master’s degree in Montessori Education from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. It was during her first year of teaching second grade in Long Island, NY, that she realized her talent for and love of teaching young children. She moved on to teach children at the primary level in the Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses. She became very interested in early childhood programs when she ministered at the Frederic Ozanam Center in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. It was there that she learned about the philosophy of Maria Montessori and subsequently received her master’s degree in Education and a diploma from the American Montessori Society. Her first Montessori endeavor was introducing a program into the Braddock Public Schools of Pittsburgh as part of an internship.

Under Sister Anita’s leadership, following the visionary teachings of both Elizabeth Ann Seton and Maria Montessori, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill established the first Montessori School in Westmoreland County in 1970. She embraced the Montessori method of education based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative planning. Under her direction, children made creative choices as she offered age-appropriate activities to guide the process. In addition to directing this school, Sister Anita acted as consultant and engaged in on-site evaluations at schools in Colorado, New York, and San Francisco. She was a member of the Silver Springs, MD, training staff for Montessori Education. 

After retirement from active ministry in 2014, Sister Anita spent her days at Caritas Christi adapting the Montessori early childhood learning objectives to help retired sisters who were able to profit from sensory stimulation, and knitting handcrafted hats for children in need. Each year she would donate between 25 and 40 knitted caps for children ages 3 to 12 to the Christian Layman Corps in Greensburg for distribution to needy children. Concern for the poor, the core of the Sisters of Charity’s ministries, was her motivation along with a happy feeling thinking about a child putting on one of her knitted hats in the cold weather.  

Reflecting on her life as a Sister of Charity, Sister Anita noted, “Little did I know how fulfilling my life would be. Given the opportunities and advantages of preparing myself for such a service – my life as an educator, a partner with parents, an instrument of God’s benevolence – leaves me humbly grateful.”

The Sisters of Charity are thankful for the supportive staff and employees at Caritas Christi in their loving care of Sister Anita. Rest in peace, Sister Anita, as you enter into the new and glorious life of eternity with Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Company of Charity.

Family and friends will be received at Caritas Christi, 129 DePaul Center Road, Greensburg, PA on Friday, September 8, from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm until the close of the Prayer Vigil where we share stories and memories.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, September 9, at 10:30 am in the Chapel of Assumption at Caritas Christi. Burial will immediately follow Mass in the Sisters’ Cemetery.

The funeral liturgy will be live-streamed; access through the link: https://venue.streamspot.com/2af9e1eb

If you wish to offer prayers or remembrances, you may do so by emailing [email protected].