Sister Avis Schons, 85, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, Minnesota, died at Assisi Heights on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Avis Elizabeth Schons was born on June 27, 1939, in Tracy, Minnesota, to Leo and Mary (Cote) Schons. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1957, received the name of Sister Leon, and made perpetual vows in 1960. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota, in 1971 and her Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation from Holy Names College, Oakland, California, in 1988. Sister Avis served in various roles throughout her career, including 16 years as an elementary teacher in Minnesota and Maryland (1960-1976). She worked as a nurse’s aide at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota (1976-77) before teaching English at Colegio Santa Francisca Romana, Bogotá, Colombia (1978-1987). She later served in Pastoral Ministry at the Diocese of Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1989-1990) and as Program Director at Catholic Charities, Vista, California (1990-2000). Sister Avis also served as Associate Minister of Congregational Leadership at Assisi Heights (2000-2006), Central Minister for Incorporation/Franciscan Life Teams (2004-2006), and Channel One, Rochester (2007-2008). She retired in 2009 and volunteered at Assisi Heights Ministries after moving there in 2017.
Survivors of Sister Avis Schons include her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 67 years; her brother, John Schons; and sister Alice Dudley.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Bernard, William, and Kenneth Schons; and two sisters, Ruth Molitor, and Elaine Ruppert.
A Resurrection Liturgy will be held at Assisi Heights at 11:00 am, Thursday, November 21, 2024. The burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery.
To view the funeral via live stream, go to www.rochesterfranciscan.org.
Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.
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