Submitted by: Dan Rich

Brother Remy Aydt, C.S.C.

May 2, 1906 - Nov. 23, 2000

South Bend Tribune 5/26/2000

Brother Remy Aydt, C.S.C., 94, died at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23, in Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., where he had lived for the past 12 years. He had been in poor health for some time.

Brother Remy was born to Ignatius and Frances (Schumacher) Aydt on May 2, 1906, in St. Michael, Minn. He was baptized Roman Nicholas at St. Michael Parish Church where he also received his first Holy Communion and was confirmed.

He was drawn to religious life and made his postulancy at Sacred Heart in Watertown, Wis., in September 1934 before entering St. Joseph's Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, Ind., on Feb. 1, 1935. On Feb. 2, 1936, he pronounced his first vows there. His first assignment was to the Novitiate staff where he assisted in house maintenance and on the farm. He made final profession on Aug. 16, 1939.

In 1940, Brother Remy was made steward at Sacred Heart College in Watertown, and five years later he moved to Notre Dame to work in the physics department. From 1946 to 1963 he worked at the University of Portland in various capacities in the bookstore, the labs and in his free time he built altars, gardened and cut hair in his room for students, staff and faculty. As a skilled craftsman and machinist, he built and repaired instruments and equipment for the science and engineering labs, often adapting and improving rough sketches. He proved to be an invaluable co-worker to the faculty and students, saving the departments budget monies for other projects. During these years he developed an interest in electric organs and, by reading books and journals, he taught himself to build and play them. His landscaping and gardening skills made him an asset wherever he was sent.

In 1963 to 1965 he returned to Notre Dame to work in maintenance at Holy Cross House and St. Joseph Hall, but after a year he moved to California to assist in the development of the West Coast Mission Band. From 1969 to 1975, he lived and worked at Moreau High School in Hayward, Calif, where, once again, he landscaped the property. In 1975 he joined the Casa Santa Cruz community in Phoenix, Ariz., and put his expertise in gardening and maintenance abilities to work to improve those surroundings. Due to declining health he retired and moved to Holy Cross House in 1988.

Before joining the Congregation of Holy Cross as a brother, he received training as a sign painter and with his natural ability and eye for detail, he became a skilled craftsman in a variety of ways. Woodworking, carpentry, painting were all areas in which he excelled. His passion, though, was gardening.

Wherever Brother Remy Aydt was assigned in his 65 years of religious life he was faithful to prayer, faithful to his work, and faithful to his community.

Brother Remy is survived by four sisters, Sister Leah Aydt, O.S.B., of St. Cloud, Minn., Irma Larson of Northridge, Calif., Carmen Thomas of St. Paul, Minn., and Ruth Aydt of Minneapolis, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Bernice Aydt of St. Michael, Minn.; a niece, Kathy Thomas; and many friends.

A wake service will be held in the chapel of Moreau Seminary at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Visitation will begin at Moreau Seminary on Tuesday, Nov. 28, beginning at 4 p.m. The funeral

Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 3:30 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. Burial will follow at the Community Cemetery, Notre Dame.

The wake service and funeral Mass will be conducted jointly for Brother Remy and Father Edward Buenger, C.S.C.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.