Sister M. Hildegard Siewe

✝ Thursday, February 16th 2023

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"Mary spread her mantle, make it a screen and shield for us." Hymn: Gottes Lob No. 634

The merciful and kind God completed the life of our fellow sister, Sister M. Hildegard on February 16, 2023. Sister M. Hildegard was born on November27,1932. She entered our religious community on August 13, 1954. She made her first profession on May 3, 1957.

Sister M. Hildegard was born in Mühlen in the Oldenburg region and grew up there in the circle of her large family, in which she felt accepted and cared for throughout her life.

She entered the religious community at the age of 22 and was given the name Sister M. Gerinaldi at her initiation. Later she took her baptismal name again. After completing her nursing training at St. Franziskus Hospital in Münster, she was a ward sister in Dorsten, Lüdinghausen, Waltrop and Lünen. She fondly remembered the nineteen years she spent on the surgical men's ward in Bottrop. In 1997 she returned from there to the motherhouse and looked after the sisters and guests in the refectory. She lovingly took care of the table decorations for the different seasons and festivals. She decorated tablecloths, jam jars and many small gifts with blue prints. She also enjoyed sewing and working for the bazaars, the proceeds of which were destined for our mission to India. Sister M. Hildegard was interested in many things and always open to innovations. She had a big heart for her fellow sisters, for the people entrusted to her care, and also for her family, to whom she always remained warmly attached.

Exactly three years ago, she realized that her strength was failing. She expressed the wish to be able to move to St. Heriburg House as a senior citizen. Here, too, she was initially very creative and, among other things, tended the raised bed in the garden. She accepted her physical limitations and consciously approached death, which did not frighten her. Thus, in the presence of two fellow sisters, she was able to give her life back into the hands of God at the first hour of the morning.

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

On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, we will say goodbye to Sister M. Hildegard at 2:00 p.m. in the Motherhouse Church and then accompany her to her final resting place in the Sisters' Cemetery.