Sister Anna Celebrates a Century of Wisdom, Wit, and Warmth

Crowned with a tiara and wearing a sash emblazoned with the words “100 & fabulous,” Sister Anna Schellhaas CSJ emerged with her fellow Sisters of St. Joseph after morning prayer. With her luminous trademark smile she greeted the many people gathered at the Hundred Oaks Center in Baton Rouge to celebrate her centennial birthday.

“I’ve had a wonderful life. I had good parents, and I had a great family life. And then when it comes to the sisters, it is like a family. I am surrounded by such good people all the time,” said Sister Anna, whose birthday was Aug. 9.

She has enjoyed good health all her life.

Among the birthday party decorum in the dining room was a banner listing some of the interesting facts from 1925: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, “The Great Gatsby” was published. The grand Ole Opry debuted in Nashville, Tennessee. Charlie Chaplin’s “the Gold Rush” was released.   “The Phantom of the Opera” was released. The Scopes trial was held concerning the teaching of evolution. Also, the federal government authorized the carving of Mt. Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota. 

The cost of living was substantially lower. If you were looking to buy a new car, the cost was $525, and the cost of gas was 30 cents a gallon. The cost of a house in a major city “burb” was between $1,500 to $6,500.

For Sister Anna, the most significant part of her life was becoming a Sister of St. Joesph.
The sister was born New Orleans, the third of nine children of the late Hilda Koelmel and George Schellhaas. She felt the call to religious life as senior student at St. Joseph Academy in New Orleans. 

“We had just made a retreat, never once thought of it during the retreat that I'd be a sister,” recalled Sister Anna. “The first day after the retreat I stayed after school to do my homework. And when Sister Julia Marie came up after prayers, she said, ‘What in the world are you doing here this late?’ I said, ‘There's so many kids at home (to focus on homework).’ I started to do my Top right photo: Sister Anna pictured with her fellow Sisters of St. Joseph and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Above photo: Bishop Michael G. Duca pictured with Sister Anna.homework, never thinking of anything. And she said, ‘Well, did you ever think of being a sister? You know, entering a convent?’ I said, ‘That's a great idea.’ And that was it,” she said  with a bright smile.

After graduating from SJA in New Orleans, she entered the Congregation in 1943.

She professed first vows in 1945 and final vows in 1948. Sister Anna worked in food service at St. Joseph Academy in New Orleans from 1945 to 1955 and then at St. Joseph Provincial House from 1955 to 1968. During the next 30 years, she worked in food service at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma, retiring in 1998. She then spent the next 17 years visiting the sick and homebound in Houma. In 2015, Sister Anna moved to Baton Rouge and stays busy praying for all the people she has known during her 80 years in the congregation.

Her fellow sisters and Brothers of the Sacred Heart said she blesses the communities with her presence.

“She’s wonderful to live with because she's very accommodating, she can be very funny. We laugh a lot,” Sister Kathleen Babin CSJ, who will celebrate her 100th birthday in March 2026. 

Sister Anna and Sister Kathleen were novices together at the congregation’s former motherhouse on Mirabeau Avenue in New Orleans. 

“We were a group of seven,” said Sister Kathleen. 

Their motherhouse was partially destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and then by a fire. The sisters, now based in Baton Rouge, leased the land to the city of New Orleans for the Mirabeau Water Garden, a project focused on flood control and urban green space. 
Sister Anna displays the T-shirt she was given by the students at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge.
The two sisters branched off over the years.  Sister Kathleen taught in elementary schools in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Grand Coteau and assumed leadership positions within the congregation. Sister Anna began her work at Terrebonne General Medical Center.

But they happily reconnected when Sister Anna moved to the center.

“She’s a delightful person. She's always cheerful, doesn't complain about things. It’s been so good to go through all these years with her,” said Sister Kathleen.

Sister Anne Ramagos CSJ appreciates Sister Anna’s integrity.

“I think her simplicity is what I enjoy most,” said Sister Anne. “She's very honest. And she doesn't beat around the bush. You know exactly what she's saying. And she really means it.”

Sister Janet Franklin CSJ said Sister Anna was the head cook in charge of the kitchen when she joined the community in New Orleans.

“One of her best characteristics is humility,” said Sister Janet.  “She never toots her own horn even though she’s done quite a bit. She’s influenced quite a number of people without making a show of it.”

Sister Anna is “a beautiful example of aging gracefully,” according to Brother Ray Hebert SC.

“She loves to tease people,” said Brother Ray, who is one of three chaplains at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. “She has a beautiful laugh and her eyes sparkle, and she brings everyone joy.”