Sister Emma Goeckner, ASC (88) of Ruma, formerly of Bishop

Sister Emma Goeckner, ASC, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, August 27, 2018 at the Ruma Center, Ruma, Ill.

Born on June 9, 1930, she was the youngest of nine children in the family of William and Rosa (Probst) Goeckner in Bishop Creek (near Effingham), Illinois. All six of the daughters became ASCs. Sister Emma was 88 years old and had been professed 72 years.

Sister Emma earned her Food Service Supervisor’s certificate during several summers of study at Fontbonne University.

Her ministry in dietary service spanned more than 60 years. Only seven of her years were spent in small convents. These included Vienna and Zell in Missouri; Olney in Illinois; and Fort Dodge in Iowa. Sister Emma also lived in Red Bud for several years as part of the welcoming community for Michelle Woodruff, ASC and Julia Taylor while working at the Ruma Center.

She served primarily in large institutions: in Illinois, at the Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, St. Henry Seminary in Belleville, St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis and the Ruma Center, where she was Supervisor of the Diet Kitchen. In Missouri she served at De Mattias Hall, the House of Studies for ASCs and sisters of many other communities while they attended St. Louis University and other area schools.

Sister Emma is described as one of the kindest persons for whom no request was too much. Unhesitatingly, she would agree to a special request, even when it meant taking time to prepare a few fried green tomatoes! Sister Emma mentored new employees of the Ruma kitchen, sharing her knowledge of cooking and baking, which seemed as natural to her as breathing.

Always an early riser, she could be found in the “peeling room” at 5 a.m., starting to prepare fresh vegetables for the day’s meals. Sometimes she would have already mixed a large batch of cookies, especially the oatmeal variety. Hers had the special touch of dried fruits, such as cranberries, dried cherries, raisins, even figs--whatever was available--and always pecans.

Sister Emma was one of the last of the regular quilters at Ruma, a group that produced an enormous number and variety of quilts over the years. Only recently has the quilting room been quiet. Sister Emma, however, continued creating needlework.

She enjoyed card games, particularly pinochle, and played regularly on a Sunday afternoon. While she never had the time or inclination to read fiction during her years of full-time ministry, Sister Laura recently introduced her to mystery novels and Emma delved into them with new enjoyment.

Sister Emma’s optimism was reflected in her prayer life. One of the bookmarks in her Bible shows a picture of the Smiling Jesus on one side and on the other a prayer that gives evidence of her trust in Him: “Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I together can’t handle.”

Sister Emma was preceded in death by her parents, her step-mothers Clara Willenborg and Elizabeth Koester, her brothers William, Alphonse and Norbert (Eleanor), her sisters Mary Jerome, ASC, Mary William, ASC, Martha, ASC and Adella, ASC; a nephew Dale Goeckner, step-sister and step-brother Virginia and Norbert Koester and step-niece Ruth Boos.

She is survived by her sister Laura ASC, nephews and nieces: Kenneth (Betty) Goeckner, Linda Verdeyen, Roger (Wendy) Goeckner, Charles (Rose) Goeckner, Ed (Jane) Goeckner, Karen (Mark) Pruemer, niece in law Sandy LaFont, Betty (Tim) Wente, Bill (Sherry) Goeckner, step-nephews Ron (Alice) and Gary (Cathy) Koester, step-niece Jane Kabbes; cousin, Sr. Jacinta Willenborg, ASC and the ASC Community.

Funeral services for Sister Emma will be at the Ruma Center with Visitation on Saturday, September 1 from 8-11 a.m. with a prayer service and sharing of memories at 10. The Mass of the Resurrection will begin at 11; burial will be in the Ruma Center cemetery.

Donations in memory of Sister Emma Goeckner may be sent to the ASC Retirement Fund, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109 or online at www.adorers.org “Support our Ministries”

Adorers of the Blood of Christ U.S. Region