Individual Details

Sister M. Hildegarde, O.P.

2/9/1884-6/23/1962

On June 23 death claimed the soul of Sister M. Hildegarde, O.P. who was suddenly
called to her eternal reward at Villa Maria Convent, Water Mill, New York. Sister was in the
fifty-ninth year of her religious life and the seventy-sixth of age.
Sister Hildegarde was born in Brooklyn, February 29, 1884. She entered Queen of
Rosary Novitiate on the feast of the Assumption in 1901 and took her vows of profession,
April 25, 1903. From 1903 Sister Hildegarde served God as Music and grade teacher until
1924 when she was appointed Superior. In this capacity she served twenty years in several
convents.

Sister gave service in the following convents: Holy Cross, St. Leonard, St. Barbara,
St. Hugh, Huntington Station, St. Pancras, St. Thomas Apostle, where she remained 18 years
and St. Mary, Woodside, where she lived for 15 years. When her term as Superior expired at
St. Mary's, Woodside, Sister Hildegarde was appointed Principal of the elementary school.
She remained in this office until 1955, when illness forced her to retire from the duties which
she undertook with great zeal and enthusiasm.
For several years, Sister Hildegarde, whose long religious life was spent in the
apostolate of activity, was forced to long periods of inactivity and desolation. During this time,
she, no doubt, was most pleasing to God, Who gives and takes as He pleases; and rewards
those who serve as well as those who wait in patience according as He wills. Sister
Hildegarde was among the latter.
The past few years of Sister's life on earth were spent at Villa Maria, Water Mill,
until God released her from her suffering on June 23, 1962. For Sister Hildegarde June 23 was
a beautiful day. "The Sisters at Water Mill," Sister Joseph Clare states, "feel certain she went
straight to heaven." For some months--rather for some years--Sister Hildegarde carried a
heavy cross. Only God knows how she suffered during the past decade of years.

Sister's pulse was very low on the morning of the 23rd, and she was advised to go
to bed and rest. She seemed to relax. As it was confession day, Rev. Joseph Rapknoski
visited her and without doubt consoled her. At about 4:30 p.m. when sister Elizabeth deemed
it wise to have sister anointed, she call Father Pietersma, who administered Extreme Unction.
Sister Hildegarde was so alert that she herself gave the responses. One half hour later she
died.

After singing the Salve, the Sisters all felt such joy that they knew they were in the
special presence of God. In spite of all Sister Hildegarde's mental and physical suffering, she
had every minute been an exemplary religious, spending all her time before the Blessed
Sacrament. The following poem was found in Sister's Office Book after her death. It gives a
little insight of the peace felt in Water Mill's Chapel."

THE CHAPEL OF WATER MILL

I entered into the chapel
And my soul was filled with awe
'Twas such a sublime feeling
One which I never felt before.

The stillness it was deathlike
And the only sound I heard
Wafted through an open window
'Twas the prayer of a singing bird.

I knelt before the altar
Solace for my soul to seek
I could hear my heart athrobbing
And the bench beneath me creek.

I watched the altar light flicker
As tho' sending forth a prayer
And I bowed my head in reverence
For I knew my Lord was there.

St. Joseph knelt adoring
With Mary, free of worldly taints
In this hallowed chapel
The nursery of Saints.

As I rose to leave I faltered
My step seemed out of stride
And I whispered, 'My dear Jesus,
Keep me ever at Thy side.'


Sister Hildegarde was much respected and admired for her exemplary life as a
religious teacher, principal, and Superior by pupils, parents and Sisters. This respect was
manifested during the days her body reposed at St. Mary's Convent, Winfield, to which it was
returned for burial. Many relatives, friends and parishioners came to pray at her side for the
repose of her soul and to pay their last tribute of respect.
May Sister find peace and repose in the company of Christ, His Mother and her
Dominican family.

Birth	February 29, 1884	Brooklyn, New York
Death	June 23, 1962	Water Mill, New York
Address		Sr. of St. Dominic Mother House / 555 Albany Ave. / Amityville, NY 11701, Sr. Rosean / email - roemcop@aol.com
Phone		631-842-6000

Father	Francis Fischer (1860 - )
Mother	Josephine Ronecker (1862 - )