St. Ursula grad taught math at alma mater

11/6/2005

Sister Anne Louise Stoelzel, 83, a graduate of St. Ursula Academy who taught mathematics at her alma mater for 20 years and was moderator of the school's alumnae association for 30 years, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure in the Ursuline Center.

Sister Anne Louise retired from classroom teaching in 1991, but she continued to tutor math students until about two years ago.

"She was a very good teacher and very patient," Sister Kathleen Padden said. "As a tutor, she taught not only the girls from the academy, but boys from St. Francis [de Sales High School] and students from the public schools whose mothers might have been alumnae."

She was a strict teacher, "but an excellent teacher," said Fran Sears, whose daughter, Ellen, was a student of Sister Anne Louise's. "She knew and understood math perfectly," Mrs. Sears said.

Sister Anne Louise was moderator of the St. Ursula Alumnae Association from 1971 to 2001 and was moderator emerita afterward. She received the Alumna of the Year Award in 1990.

Not only was she a regular at St. Ursula reunions, she kept in touch with alumnae and followed the events of their lives.

"She knew all the grads, all the alumnae. She knew their families and their daughters and granddaughters," Mrs. Sears said. "You mentioned somebody, she could tell you about her."

Sister Anne Louise was a fan of St. Ursula sports teams and followed local high school sports, Mrs. Sears said.

She was born Marie Kathryn Stoelzel and grew up in the Old West End. She was a parishioner of Rosary Cathedral when she entered the Ursuline Community in 1943.

Sister Anne Louise received bachelor of arts and bachelor of science in education degrees from the former Mary Manse College. She received a master's degree from Catholic University of America in Washington.

She was awarded National Science Foundation grants to pursue her post-graduate education during summer breaks. Her studies took her to the University of Notre Dame, St. Louis University, DePauw University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Toledo, and Ohio State University.

Sister Anne Louise previously taught at the elementary schools of St. Teresa and St. Thomas Aquinas in Toledo and at Lima, Ohio, Central Catholic High School.

She and her sister, Gertrude Trompeter, were close, and she visited the Trompeter home on holidays and other occasions, her brother-in-law, Carl Trompeter, said. She also took a keen interest in her four nephews - they called her Aunt Marie - and their families.

Her sister died Nov. 19, 2003.

There are no immediate survivors.

Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. today in the Ursuline Center, where there will be a vigil service at 7 tonight. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Ursuline Center. Arrangements are by the Coyle Funeral Home.

It is suggested that tributes be to the Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund.