SCHAFFER– Sister Lois Schaffer, OP (the former Colletta Schaffer) of Grand Rapids, Michigan (born in Mount Pleasant, Michigan) died December 17, 2009.  She was 90 years old and a Dominican Sister for 72 years. 

Sr. Lois first taught on Beaver Island, Michigan.  Subsequently she taught at Holy Trinity, Alpine; Holy Family and St. Joseph, Saginaw; and Marywood Academy.

A gifted artist, Sister Lois earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Pius XII Institute in Florence, Italy.  She was appointed to Aquinas College as a professor of art in 1960 where she served for the next sixteen years.

Sister Lois lectured on art to many groups.  She focused on “bringing into a whole the deeper meaning of ethical, moral, and esthetic values, attitudes and sensitivities in being a total person in today’s world.”  Her works include paintings, triptychs, stained glass windows, and mosaics for churches.   She served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Grand Rapids Art Museum and taught graduate courses in art for extension services of University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

Sister Lois is survived by her sisters, Rita Doherty of Eustis, Florida; Mary Anne Rosenburg of Thousand Oaks, California; Jeanne Mullins (Clarence) of Shawnee, Oklahoma; Madonna Wing of San Diego, California; and her brothers Frank Schaffer of Sioux City, Iowa and Tom Marshall of Reno, Nevada; nieces, nephews, friends and sisters in her Dominican community.

Sister Lois will repose at Chapel of the Word, Marywood Health Center, 111 Lakeside Dr. NE in Grand Rapids with visitation there on Monday, December 21, 2009 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. A remembering service will be held on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Dominican Chapel/Marywood, 2025 East Fulton Street.  A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at Dominican Chapel/Marywood.  Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.  Memorials in Sister Lois Schaffer’s name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund.