Catholic Saskatoon News
Sr. Philomena Dobmeier of the Fransiscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth died June 30 at Samaritan Place, Saskatoon.
Born Josephine Dobmeier Nov.6, 1934, to Elizabeth (Worms) and Adam Dobmeier of Pilger, SK, she grew up there with six brothers and seven sisters. She received her early schooling at Colorado School in Pilger.
She was introduced to religious life by her older sister, Sr. Regina Dobmeier, and by working with the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth at Saint Michael’s Hospital in Cudworth, SK.
On April 2, 1951, Josephine entered St. Elizabeth Convent in Humboldt, SK, and was given the religious name of Sr. Mary Philomena as a novice in 1951. She made her temporary profession of religious vows Oct. 27, 1953, and her perpetual profession of vows in 1956.
She continued her education through correspondence courses, completing Grade 12 at Saint Ursula’s Academy in Bruno, SK, and one year of home economics at the University of Saskatchewan. From there, she went to Saint Francis University in Antigonish, NS, where she received a Master of Household Science and a teaching certificate for home economics. After a year of internship at University Hospital in Saskatoon, she received her certificate in dietetics.
She served as a dietitian at Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Humboldt, teaching dietetics in the School of Nursing in Humboldt, as well as home economics at Humboldt Collegiate Institute.
She continued her studies in hospital organization and management, including a three-week course at the University of Manitoba, receiving certificates in both 1975 and 1977. Subsequently, she served as a consultant dietitian for the Saskatchewan Hospital Association in southern Saskatchewan.
Dobmeier served on numerous boards associated with hospitals and dietetics. She was a founding member of the Catholic Health Corporation of Saskatchewan, now called Emmanuel Care.
At the request of Bishop Charles Halpin, she served as administrator of Saint Joseph Hospital in Ile-à-la-Crosse and Saint Martin’s Hospital in La Loche in northern Saskatchewan. From 1985 until the time of a devastating stroke in 2016, she served the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth in administrative roles—as a general councillor, Superior General, and General Treasurer.
Sr. Philomena Dobmeier was predeceased by her parents Adam and Elizabeth; brothers Martin (Katie), Herman (Rose), Andrew, Sylvester, and Tony; sisters: Sr. Regina, Bertha (Ken) Szautner, Veronica (Steven) Horacki, Francis (John) Masse, Marie, and Loretta (Pete) Harms.
She is survived by the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth (Sr. Viola Bens, Sr. Diane Turner, Sr. Justina Wirachowsky, and Sr. Louise Krupka); her siblings Raymond Dobmeier and Margaret Clendanan; and in-laws Donna Dobmeier and Loretta Dobmeier; as well as many nieces and nephews.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 7, 2026 at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Saskatoon, with Archbishop Don Bolen presiding. Interment follosed at St. Elizabeth Convent Cemetery, Humboldt, SK.