Sister Mary Ann Fleischmann, OSB papers

Sister Mary Ann (Ruth Ann) Fleischmann, OSB was born April 13, 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri. After her father's death when Ruth was an infant, her mother remarried and Ruth was raised with three half siblings, George, Francis, and Rita. She attended her parish school, St. Francis Solanus and St. Mary's Academy in Quincy, Illinois. As a young adult, she participated in theater productions held in the auditorium of St. Francis School. For a time, Ruth worked as a secretary in Quincy and, counseled by Fr. Arnold Schwarz, OSB, was guided to the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago where she entered September 3, 1932. Sister Mary Ann taught business education classes at St. Scholastica High School, St. Scholastica Academy, and Salpointe High School. As house superior in Cañon City she led the capital campaign for the new residence hall. Although disabled with arthritis, Sister Mary Ann was a skilled needleworker, a voracious reader, and a diehard Chicago sports fan. She died at St. Francis Hospital at the age of 95 on October 22, 2000.