Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis

Sister M. Abdonia Stockmann

✝ Friday, November 4th 2022

God is closer in suffering than in happiness!  Finding Him in suffering gives peace, tranquility and a strong heart. (Bonhoeffer)

On the afternoon of November 4, 2022, the merciful God called to eternal life our dear Sister M. Abdonia Stockmann 

Sister M. Abdonia was born in Riesenbeck on January 15, 1934.  She entered our congregation in 1954.  She made her first profession on October 27, 1956, and her perpetual profession on the Foundation Day in 1962.

After her nursing examination, Sister M. Abdonia worked in various institutions before taking on pastoral tasks in the care of the elderly in Neuenkirchen-Vörden in 1986 and in Sassenberg from 1999.

From 2007 to 2012 she was responsible for the chapel at St. Elisabeth Hospital in Damme. She remained in contact with the staff in the facilities for a long time. 

She then moved to St. Francis House in Nordwalde and performed small services and served meals to her fellow sisters.

Sister M. Abdonia was a deeply religious woman and it was a great concern to her that the liturgy was dignified. She loved music and enjoyed playing her harmonium. As long as she could, she sang the breviary to the delight of her fellow sisters.

Until the end, she maintained good and close contact with her nieces and nephews and enjoyed participating in the family celebrations. For three years she had been dependent on nursing assistance. 

Sister M. Abdonia was well prepared for the day when the Lord God called her to Himself at 3:00 p.m. in the presence of her fellow Sisters at St. Francis House in Nordwalde. She had designed the death note herself and chose a saying by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Gratefully we take leave of Sister M. Abdonia. We remember her in prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist and remain united to her.

We will celebrate the Resurrection Mass on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Motherhouse Church in Münster. This will be followed by burial in the Sisters' Cemetery. Due to the Corona Pandemic, the usual rules apply.