Sister Roma Paulus, O.S.B., 98, a Benedictine sister of Saint Bede Monastery, in Eau Claire, died at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.\r\nBorn in Bloomer, WI, to parents George and Anna (Steinmetz) Paulus, on February 24, 1910, Sister Roma (Florence) was the oldest of ten children which included five brothers and four sisters.\r\nFollowing her high school graduation, Sister Roma pursued her teaching accreditation and began her teaching career. She then entered the Benedictine community at St. Joseph, MN, in 1938 making her first profession on July 11, 1941. In 1948, she joined the newly founded Saint Bede Priory in Eau Claire. Sister Roma loved celebrations and was proud to celebrate her Silver Jubilee in 1966 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2001 with her family, relatives and friends.\r\nFollowing her profession, Sister Roma began her teaching career as a Benedictine Sister at St. Benedict's Boys School in Altoona, WI. Her teaching in primary and intermediate grades continued in Ellsworth, Eau Claire, La Crosse and Richland Center. She was an excellent teacher who thoroughly enjoyed teaching and winning her students with her stories, wit and humor.\r\nIn her ministry, Sister Roma also served as principal in several schools. She further served the community as the Director of the Junior sisters as well as superior in some of the community's local houses.\r\nIn 1976, Sister Roma became an assistant coordinator of health care for the elderly sisters residing at the then Regis Convent. In 1992, she retired and joined the sisters residing at Wissota Lakeside in Chippewa. Later she joined in the current move to Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation where she remained until her death.\r\nThroughout her lifetime Sister Roma kept in touch with social issues and peace and justice affairs while openly voicing her opinion. She remained an avid reader, a great visitor and a profound letter writer. She loved visits from friends and relatives. In a word, Sister Roma loved people! Visitors were her great joy!\r\nSister Roma was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Bertram, Richard, Edmund, and James; and her sisters, Geraldine, Genevieve, and Sister Moira, O.S.B. Survivors include her brother, Cornelius (Buck); her sister, Patricia Gehrking; many nieces and nephews as well as the sisters in her Benedictine family.\r\nMass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Bede Monastery on Friday, December 5, 2008, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2008, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Saint Bede Monastery with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery.\r\nLenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral Home is assisting the community with arrangements.\r\n

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