Funeral Mass was held Feb.7 at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead for Salesian Father William Schafer, who died Feb. 2. A Salesian priest for 51 years, Father Schafer was a former principal and president of Don Bosco Technical Institute college preparatory high school.A native of Berkeley, Father Schafer earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Don Bosco College in Newton, N.J. After three years of teaching, and five years of study in Italy, he received a degree in theology from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome and later earned a master’s degree in natural science (with a major in physics) at Seattle University.In 1962, about a year after his ordination, Father Schafer was assigned to Don Bosco Technical High School in Rosemead, where he served as a math and physics teacher and as vice-principal until 1968. Following a stint at Salesian High School in northern California serving as vice-principal and then as principal, he returned to Don Bosco Tech as principal and the college dean of student affairs.After his election as president of the school in 1979, Father Schafer and the board of trustees presided over the beginnings of major developments in the school’s history. During this period, the school obtained its first grant, inaugurated its first annual fundraising campaign, initiated a $420,000 modernization of the electronics department and created a computer lab. Writing in a letter to the alumni of the school as his term as president ended, Father Schafer commented: “The years here have been the best of my life, made rich by contact with students, parents, teachers and alumni!” Burial was at the Salesian Cemetery in Richmond. Sr. Marie Xavier Padberg, SSNDFuneral Mass was celebrated Feb. 9 at the Theresa Center chapel in St. Louis for School Sister of Notre Dame Marie Xavier Padberg, 83, who died Feb. 6. Born in St. Louis, she entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame there in 1946. She earned a bachelor’s in social studies education from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles in 1957 and, in 1966, a master’s in education from St. Louis University.As a newly professed sister, she was one of the SSND pioneers to open the new mission, Santa Isabel in Los Angeles, where she taught from 1949-59. After assignments in the Midwest, she returned to the L.A. archdiocese, where she taught at St. Mariana de Paredes and St. Hilary, both in Pico Rivera. Memorial contributions may be made to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Mission Advancement, 320 E. Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63125-2897.Elizabeth NoonanA Memorial Mass was celebrated Feb. 14 at Holy Redeemer Church in Montrose for Elizabeth Noonan, 84, who recently died in Los Angeles. Born in Wilmington, she earned a master’s in library science at Carnegie Institute of Technology and shared her love of reading as a children’s librarian for over 50 years in the Washington, D.C., and Chicago Public Library systems as well as at Catholic schools, including Holy Redeemer.The mother of six children, she was active in the prolife movement of the ’60s and ’70s. Survivors include her husband, Joseph, and her children: Christopher, Kathleen, Mary, Elizabeth and Geoffrey and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, Richard. Visit the online memorial book at cabotandsonsfh.com.Genevieve SmolarskiFuneral Mass was celebrated Feb. 9 at St. Monica Church in Santa Monica for Genevieve Smolarski, 90, who died Jan. 29. A St. Monica parishioner since 1950, her two children graduated from the parish elementary and high schools. Survivors include her son, Jesuit Father Dennis Smolarski who teaches at Santa Clara University; her daughter, Janet Newell of Anchorage, Alaska; and two grandchildren, Christina and Steven Newell.
