Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis

Sister M. Ewalda Große-Dütting

✝ Wednesday, December 14th 2022

Prepare the way of the Lord; make a straight way for our God. (Is. 40:3)

 The God for whom we wait in this time of Advent called to Himself our dear Sister M. Ewalda, Bernhardine Große-Dütting, Hospital Sister of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.

Born: August 31, 1935

Entrance: October 7, 1965

Profession: May 3, 1968

Died: December 14, 2022

Bernhardine Große-Dütting was born in Beelen near Warendorf. Together with her four siblings, she grew up on her parents' farm. Already at an early age, she had the wish to enter the congregation. However, she had to postpone this wish until the age of 30 because her father died early and her mother was ill for many years. Therefore, she had to work a lot at home early on and take responsibility for the family. This shaped her life to go quietly and gradually her way.

In 1965, she was finally able to enter the community of the Franciscan Sisters of Mauritz. She received the religious name Sister M. Ewalda at her entrance to noviciate. Before entering, she completed housekeeping education, so that her professional path in the convent was predetermined. After her religious profession, Sister M. Ewalda attended the dietetic school at the St. Franziskus Hospital in Münster and became a dietician. After several shorter assignments, she managed the diet kitchen in Stadtlohn from 1978 - 1990 and then the kitchen in Horstmar for seven years. Later she supplied the refectory in the Irmgardis convent in Telgte for 10 years and after a period of illness; she came to the convent Maria-Hilf-St. Rochus, where she continued to care for the physical well-being of her sisters in the community. Then in summer of 2019, she moved as a senior citizen to St. Heriburg House in Münster.

Gratefully and with respect for her life's work, we bid farewell to Sister M. Ewalda. In prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist we remember her and remain united with her.

On Monday, December 19, 2022 at 2.00 p.m., we will say goodbye to Sister M. Ewalda in the Motherhouse Church and then accompany her to her final resting place in the Sisters' Cemetery.  Due to the Corona pandemic, the usual rules apply.