Rosetta Reiniger, nun known for supporting Riders, dead at 88

A nun who was well known for her loyal support of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has passed away.

According to her obituary, Sister Rosetta Reiniger died on Sunday at St. Angela Merici Residence in Saskatoon. She was 88.

Born in Macklin as the youngest of 10 children, Reiniger was perhaps best known throughout Saskatchewan as a strong supporter of the Riders. In 2015, she told 980 CJME about her routine while watching the games with the other nuns at the residence. There was always plenty of popcorn on hand when the Green and White took the field, and she said the nuns would often offer prayers during the games.

“We pray for sure before every game, and sometimes during the game we pray to God ‘please let this happen’ or ‘please don’t let that happen,’” Reiniger said.

“Usually it’s pretty simple, like ‘Please God, help the defense hold them’ or ‘Please God, please help the quarterback make this throw.’”

Over the years the sisters at St. Angela Merici acquired a lot of Rider memorabilia, including signed photos of Durant and Don Narcisse. Ex-head coach Ken Miller also sent the sisters a signed football with the entire 2009 roster.

Reiniger and her fellow nuns also collected a fair amount of Roughrider memorabilia over the years, including signed photos of Darian Durant and Don Narcisse. Former head coach Ken Miller also sent the sisters a football signed by the entire 2009 roster.

While she may have been best known as a Rider fan, Reiniger was also an accomplished educator, working as a teacher and serving as principal and executive director of St. Angela’s Academy. For her work in education, she received both the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and the Julian Paslawski Award from the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association.

She also harboured a great interest in technology, operating a ham radio and establishing a computer lab at St. Angela’s.

Reiniger also loved to travel, cherishing her memories of visits to eastern Europe, Russia and Rome.

“She is fondly remembered by her Ursuline Sisters for her warm personality, administrative skills, generosity in service, dedication to Ursuline traditions, love of the Academy, fondness for jokes and loyalty to the Roughriders,” her obituary read.

“Her memory is deeply cherished by her Ursuline community, her sister, Theresa, brother, Ed, sister-in-law Eva, her many nieces, nephews and their families.”

Her funeral was scheduled for Friday morning at St. Anne’s Church.