Br. Roger A. Shondel, OP, was born in East Chicago, Indiana on June 1, 1944. After a brief illness, he died on June 10, 2022, in New Orleans.
Br. Roger entered the Dominican novitiate at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, IL. from 1963-1964 with the St. Albert the Great Province. He professed Simple Vows at the Dominican House of Studies on August 5, 1964 and professed Solemn Vows at St. Catherine of Siena in Hammond, Indiana on August 5, 1970. He joined the Province of St. Martin de Porres when it was established.
Br. Roger earned degrees at Triton Junior College, River Grove, Illinois 1972, AA (Liberal Arts); Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois, 1974, BA, (Sociology) and Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois in 1976, ME (Guidance Counseling). He also earned Philosophy credits at Aquinas Institute of Philosophy in River Forest, IL in 1970.
After making profession, Br. Roger first served as a part-time Social Studies Teacher at St. Vincent Ferrer Grammar School in Chicago, IL, from 1970-1975. Moving to Dallas he served for the next seven years as the Guidance Counselor and Dean of Discipline and also Instructor of American History, Theatre Arts and Religion at Bishop Lynch High School. Br. Roger was then assigned to New Orleans where he would begin what would be his career for the rest of his life. He became the Guidance Counselor at St. Mary’s Dominican High School. His last year at Dominican he served as the receptionist.
Br. Roger is preceded in death by his parents, Melvina Rosalee Balint and Stephan Shondel and his siblings, Sally Jean Shondel, Sylvia Ann Kiger, and Steven Louis Shondel. He is survived by his sister, Joan Marie McLaughlin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 775 Harrison Ave., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 11 AM. Visitation will begin at 10 AM. Interment in Dominican Friars Cemetery in Rosaryville, LA, will follow the mass. Arrangements entrusted to Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70119. To view and sign the virtual register book, please visit www.schoenfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Southern Dominican Province, USA, P. O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182.
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