- Date Of Birth: September 22, 1930
- Date Of Death: March 4, 2021
- State: Nebraska
She stated once that she owed her vocation to her maternal grandmother, who was her baptismal sponsor and was regarded as a saint by Sr. Marita’s mother. Hildegard entered the convent in Tutzing, Germany, on September 15, 1953, and became a postulant on March 21, 1954. As a postulant she was sent to the priory in Norfolk, Nebraska, USA, and arrived on April 7, 1954, where she made her first profession on January 13, 1956. During her years of temporary profession, she was allowed to continue her university studies and so was able to graduate, “cum Laude” from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Then followed final profession on May 6, 1959. She was a very qualified teacher and taught in the schools in Madison, Winnebago, and Assumption Academy in Norfolk as well as holding the position of principal in Winnebago from 1965-1969.
Sr. Marita’s mission assignments included teaching in the High School in Inkamana, South Africa, while also being dormitory mother to the girls. This was a time of “apartheid,” so the tensions were intense as the students were black South Africans and the school was situated in “white” territory. Here Sr. Marita served faithfully from 1969 to 1984. This was followed by one year in Rome studying theology at Regina Mundi College. In 1986 she was again assigned to the community in Norfolk, Nebraska.
Sr. Marita was devout and prayerful, always trusting God’s care for her. Her love of prayer was expressed through her commitment to personal and communal prayer as well as her faithful service in the monastery schola and as organist for the community until 2018.
While in Germany on home leave in 2010, Sr. Marita had a bilateral knee surgery.
Sr. Marita died peacefully in the monastery infirmary on March 4. She was proceeded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister. Sr. Marita is survived by her beloved cousins and friends, as well as her community of Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
