Members of our Secular Institute usually live their professional apostolate unrecognized in the world. The decisive factor is the work for the Kingdom of God and not personal recognition. In this way they try to put the principle of Saint Igantius of Loyola into practise. This principle is: “Everything to the higher glory of God!”

By publishing obituaries for them here, we have the possibility of showing our members’ work in the world in retrospect.

Obituary for Herta Bock

24.09.1930 – 25.10.2022

First Vows: 19.05.1972
Final Vows: 12.05.1978

Herta loved to sing, so she was a choir member in the church choir of our parish. I was also a member of the choir and through this meeting a friendship began. Thus, I learned more about her life:

Herta was a widow and had a son whom she had to care for because her husband died in an accident when Wilfried (her son) was 4 years old.

She worked as a radiographer until she retired. She enjoyed 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Her way into the community:

When I told her about my participation in Ignatian retreats of our community, she too wished to be allowed to participate in such retreats, which was granted to her.

In this way she got to know our community and subsequently asked for admission and for permission to make her oblation in it.

On 19 May 1972 she was allowed to make the First Oblation.

Now we were also united by our membership of the same community.

Herta was very well read. She eagerly attended the meetings in the Linz area and after 6 years asked to be allowed to make her Final Oblation at the retreat on 12 May 1978.

Herta felt very connected to me. She came daily from her home to celebrate Holy Mass with me. The last time was in the chapel of the Sisters of Mary in Linz. During these encounters I noticed that she was suffering from an incipient dementia.

Her son organised her admission to a nursing home.

Her illness worsened visibly until she was taken home by God on 25 October 2022. She was in her 93rd year.

by Marianne

Obituary for Elisabeth Wuinovic 

14.05.1929 – 09.02.2023

First Vows: 15.07.1967
Final Vows: 29.07.1973

Elisabeth Wuinovic was a kindergarten teacher by profession, just like me. I got to know her through my professional colleague.

She always felt called to religious life but was not accepted anywhere because of her weak health.

When she heard about our community, she saw it as the fulfilment of her desire.

She gladly came to community meetings and made her First Oblation at the retreat on 15. July 1967. On 29. July 1973 was her Final Oblation.

Her family did not want to share in her joy and did not understand her decision.

Elisabeth especially loved flowers.

In a small garden she planted and tended flowers with joy, so that she could give them away again and bring joy to others. She always brought small bouquets of flowers to the group meetings for us as well.

When her hearing and vision began to deteriorate, she was admitted to a nursing home.

She endured her disability with much patience. She was happy about visits and always found an opportunity to make others happy, e.g. with a saying or a beautiful card.

She had a particularly good relation with her godchild, who was also with her when she was taken home by God on 7^th February 2023 – at the age of 94.

by Marianne

Obituary for Annemarie Vienatzer – Austria

30 January 1938 – 10 May 2022

First Vows:     21 August 1976
Final Vows:    14 July 1984

When Annemarie joined our community in 1972 and was assigned to the Salzburg area, she was the last NEW person to join in Salzburg.

From her “vita”, which her brother recited at her funeral, it emerged that she had come with her family from South Tyrol (St. Ulrich) to the “National socialist Empire” during the National Socialist era and finally found her new home in Bischofshofen, in the province of Salzburg.

There, after elementary and secondary school, she also attended commercial school and worked exclusively in an office business.

She was known in her family as “deeply religious”. So it was no surprise to them that she entered the convent of the “Sisters of Mercy” in Innsbruck, where she then completed her training as a secondary school teacher.

In 1971 she left the convent and on 14 October 1973 she began her introductory period in the Secular Institute “Unserer Lieben Frau vom Wege (Our Lady of the Way)”, as the Institute was then called.

She made her First Vows on 21 August 1976 and her Final Vows on 14 July 1984.

Maria Christine wrote in her obituary for the relatives that she experienced Annemarie as a rather quiet member. She was all the more surprised when university professor Dir. Anton Strukelj from Slovenia suddenly contacted her and asked for Annemarie. Annemarie had gone to a nursing home after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Our Annemarie did the proofreading for this professor for a very important publication by him. In the meantime, this work has been translated into many languages.

Out of gratitude for this service, he now visited Annemarie on his visits to or passages through Austria, prayed with her and brought her the Holy Eucharist from the home chapel, which she again gratefully accepted, as she was latterly only bed-bound.

In Salzburg, very few members knew that Annemarie had already lived a long convent life! She did not talk very much about herself and if she did, then about her former, beloved home in South Tyrol or her musically talented nephew, who played the trumpet with bravura, which he also proved at her grave.

She herself was also very musical and could climb all heights with her bright soprano voice. Under her leadership, we were able to musically “shine” in the Salzburg area as a “quintet” with Hannerl, Lucia, Gretel and me.

Annemarie kept constant contact with the “Movement for a Better World” and provided us with beautiful songs.

She also had many contacts with priests, including missionaries, whom she actively supported and was allowed to go on an “Africa trip” with local visits.

Annemarie had a particularly good relationship with Liselotte and Gertrud Knees. The latter still visited her for a long time when she went home via Bischofshofen from the community meetings in Salzburg to Klagenfurt, when Annemarie was already in the nursing home.

That was a total of 8 years.

The diagnosis of “restless legs” and “dementia” gave her a lot of trouble while she was still able to realise it. In the end, she was no longer able to do so and communication with her was no longer possible.

Now – let it be granted to her – she will probably be able to actively participate in the “heavenly music” again.

by Gerlinde

Obituary for Herma Wiehart – Austria

3 July 1922 – 7 March 2022

First Vows:    2 Jan 1949
Final Vows:    1 Jan 1952

Some of my memories of Herma:

First of all: Herma was a humble person in the true sense of the word: She had the courage to serve and also the courage to let herself be served. For me, today I would say: she realized what is written in Ez. 2:2: “Stand on your feet, son of man, I have to talk to you.” – That’s how I see it; Herma might say, “Well, what have I done!”

When I met her, she had been a member of the community for a long time; a quiet person who had her heart in the right place. But I only got to know that as time went on. At first I was like probably most of those who met her: unobtrusive, slow to speak, exact in action; absolutely not outstanding. But from the beginning I was very impressed by the fact that she expressed her opinion – and she had an opinion! – clearly, no matter who her counterpart was.

As a seamstress she was – as far as I know – in demand for the care with which she worked. And this care was visible even in the smallest things; she had also exercised this care in the care of the house in Rodaun, for which she was responsible for several years. Herma could easily ask for help, just as she helped without hesitation. The community could sing a song about this, her parish benefited from it, and everyone who had delt with her experienced it.

Herma was a deeply pious person in the most original sense of the word: to be pious means to be good!

And Herma was good as a person who was a Christian. When we held our spiritual weekends, she was in demand not only as a cook; equally important were her contributions, her humour and her contagious laughter. And here I would like to insert: She was capable of friendship and cultivated friendships. And in the parish people were her friends and kept her friendship, even when she needed their help. With my friend Erika she had a good, sustainable friendship until her death.

The secret: she approached people openly!.

Herma had the gift of gratefully accepting the help that aging imposed on her (rollator, meals on wheels).

“The rollator is great! I can sit on it when I’m tired, and I can take my things home and don´t have to carry them!” When she told me that, I was deeply impressed.

Not everyone can be so accepting of the difficulties of old age.

She saw her last hospital stay in a positive light. And when she learned that she could no longer stay alone, she prudently arranged everything with the help of her friends. And she was lucky enough to be able to go to the retirement home she wanted to go to. The single room in the Marienheim was a gift for her, because she had lived alone for the longest time of her life. But I am convinced that if she had not had a single room, she would have discovered good sides of this situation as well.

Due to the pandemic, a visit was not possible in the last few years. As long as it was possible, we kept in touch by phone until her ears didn’t want to hear anymore. And she was allowed to fall asleep and go home without any major problems.

The funeral was simple, but substantial. The priest found the right words for this precious person and it was fitting. There were only a few people who attended this act: her cousin with her husband, her best friend from the parish with her husband, my friend Erika and me.

Later at the memorial service in the parish church of Ernstbrunn (which she herself had arranged) the General Director represented the Secular Institute, which her cousin was very happy about.

The community has become poorer for an inwardly rich, pious, joyful person.

Thank you, Herma!

by Anna Elisabeth

Obituary for Imma Huber – Austria

1 July 1930 – 2 March 2022

First Vows:  Jun 10, 1962
Final Vows: May 31, 1968

After a broken neck of the femur and an operation, I spent several weeks getting around using only crutches as walking aids. I had been sent to the Dr. Rupp Rehabilitation Center in St. Georgen im Attergau for a period of gait training.

Although I knew that this was Imma’s hometown, I had little connection with this fellow sister as she belonged to the Salzburg group. However, I contacted her by phone, since we had already met at retreats. After a short time Imma came to visit me and she visited me every day during those three weeks.

She was concerned that I should be able to walk well again, so she deliberately trained me to gait during short walks. When things got too tiring for me and I didn’t want to walk anymore, she could also become very vigorous. Thus, she supported me a lot to get well “on my feet” again. I was very grateful to her for that.

These encounters also gave us the chance to get to know each other better on a personal level. Since that time, we have often been in touch by telephone and have enjoyed meeting each other at community meetings.

I will always remember her gratefully in prayer. May God reward her for the love she gave.

by Marianne

Obituary for Evamarie Kallir – Austria

29 June 1925 – 14 February 2022

First Vows:   May 28, 1966
Final Vows:  Sept 28, 1973

Actually, Evamarie left us the instruction not to write an obituary about her.

Fortunately, this was done by her niece, who came from America and read it out at the end of the service. Thankfully, we received it for our annual report in a roundabout way through Gerti from Mrs. Ruckenstuhl, who accompanied Evamarie until the end.

Nevertheless, I would like to write some memories of Evamarie here. I am sure that other members could also report similar memories.

The picture above, during a visit of Evamarie to the headquarters, shows her as she was: somewhat extravagant, purposeful, down-to-earth, upright and always ready to help where she could.

I think back to the situation when I, as the new General Director, was supposed to plan the visitation for America and had no secretary available. Evamarie offered to help me with her knowledge of English. She helped to establish the contacts, which was not so easy in the end, because some of the data was no longer up-to-date. But she stayed on it and kept on phoning until everything was really on the table.

Another time I locked myself out of the Central House because I wanted to bring the painters in the other flat something to drink and forgot to put the key in the pocket. Then the door was locked and luckily, I still had the mobile phone with Evamaries number with me. She was immediately ready to come from her flat to open the door for me again. In her haste, she had even put on two different socks. That’s how important it was for her to help as soon as possible.

Until the end, she was interested in knowing that the community was on the right track and spared no effort in communicating her suggestions and concerns to the General Council. May she now be safe with the Lord.

Maria Christine

Obituary for Muriel Schooner – India

21 Sept 1951 – 20 Sept 2021

First Vows:   6 May 1984
Final Vows:  30 Oct 1994

Obituary for Muriel of Adelaide with contributions from Josephine:

Muriel was a very loving person and enjoyed making friends.

She was known for her great generosity.

The Community of Our Lady of the Way (as it used to be called) was very dear to her heart and even when she was no longer able to travel to the 2018 General Assembly, she sent a box of handbags for the delegates that were decorated with the Institute’s logo by the tribal women with whom she worked. They were much appreciated by the General Assembly delegates. At previous General Assemblies, Muriel presided over the conduct of the community evening on Election Day.

Returning now to her home in Jaipur, she ran a kindergarten/preschool in the large premises of the Family House. In addition, she selflessly worked to support especially the poor, backward women. She picked up the needy from the roadside and took them to the shelters. Muriel even went in search of children who ran away from their homes into the woods. She started an open school for dropouts and became involved with the youth in her community.

When there was trouble in Odisha and the priests and nuns were attacked, she took a van full of food, Bibles and clothes.

She also held an outreach program when there was the earthquake in Gujarat.
The Rajasthan government was very pleased with her charitable work and awarded her the Prerana Award for selfless service.

Muriel also counselled broken families in the family courts.

Her strength was her faith in the divine mercy of Jesus.

After the 2012 General Assembly, she visited the Divine Mercy Shrine and spread devotion to the Divine Mercy in her hometown by establishing a Divine Mercy Shrine.

During the last 3 years of her life, she suffered from kidney problems and was under medical treatment and also hospitalized for months due to dialysis and other ailments. Despite her illness, she visited Maggie in Jaipur a few months before her death and even travelled from Rajasthan to Gujarat to be present for Anita’s final vows, as I (Adelaide) was unable to travel out of Mumbai due to the lockdown.

On September 19, 2021, I received an early morning call from her to say that she had fallen and broken her leg and hip bone. She asked if she could borrow some money from the community for the surgery, which I gladly approved. Muriel underwent surgery on September 20 and although the leg surgery was successful, she immediately required dialysis and suffered a massive heart attack from which she passed away.

The Divine Mercy of Jesus was surely poured out on her to relieve her of her suffering. She went up to celebrate her birthday the next day, September 21, where the heavenly hosts were singing: Happy birthday, dearest Muriel!

by Adelaide und Josephine

Another note from Maria Christine:

I remember Muriel, whom I met at the General Assembly in Salzburg in 2000, as a determined and resolute person with a soft core.

In addition to the various aid projects already described by Adelaide and Josephine, she also gave spiritual talks in houses of nuns. Some new members came to our institute through such a house.

Due to her diabetes, which was perhaps not treated in the ideal way, she fell into a long unconsciousness. Her sister, who sat by her bedside for a long time, reported that she kept talking about God’s mercy. In fact, Muriel then confirmed her findings in this regard and, after this long period of hovering between life and death, had a chapel to the “Divine Mercy” built in the garden of the parish or the sisters’ house, where she then made a daily pilgrimage to pray.

by Maria Christine

Obituary for Maria Regina Schaumberger

21.11.1938 – 25.08.2021

28.07. 1962 First Oblation / vows
19.07. 1968 Final Oblation / vows

Maria Schaumberger was born on 21.11. 1938 in Puchheim. She had 3 brothers and sisters. Already as a teenager she entered the order of the Franciscan Sisters in Vöcklabruck. However, she soon fell ill and was dismissed from the order. However, the nuns gave her a job in the order’s own hospital in Grieskirchen. Maria worked in the hospital office, in the personnel accounting department. Sshe attended courses in order to be better qualified for this.

Because of her great zeal, she completed them with distinction.

Through the Order Maria also got to know our Secular Institute.

On 28.7.1962 she made the First Oblation and on 19.7.1968  her Final Oblation.

She received the name Maria Regina.

She was the procurator and ratio guide of the Linz area for years.

Maria Regina was very modest, correct and conscientious.

To everyone’s delight, she was also an enthusiastic organist. For about 30 years she played daily at every Holy Mass in the St. Klara retirement home in Vöcklabruck.

She also played the organ at the retreats of the community in Subiaco.

I still remember how solemn it was at my final oblation.

In the community she also used to do the Mass preparations.

As long as Maria Regina was able, she did the shopping for the residents.

The last years of her life she had to endure cancer and could no longer leave her room.

Maria Regina was also very fervent in prayer for the community and the Church.

On 25 August 2021, when we were at the retreat in the neighbouring house, the Lord took her to himself. She is buried in the family grave in Attnang.

May God give you eternal peace and reward you for all the good you have done.

by Gerti

Obituary for Kathleen Green

 08.05.1927 –  07.05.2021

 12.08.1990          First Vows

18.09.1997          Final Vows

Cathleen Green, not a catholic was sent to school to where they lived in Northern Ireland, her family like the majority in Northern Ireland who were not catholic, would have nothing to do with Catholics or the Catholics faith. Kathleen became a catholic in her early 20th or late teens. the family were very much against it, and a cousin who was an Anglican Bishop never spoke to her again. Kathleen joined the R.T.E. Orchestra and her instrument was the viola. It is to Kathleens Credit and faith that her father became a catholic, her mother whom she nursed for 11 years, also before she died became a catholic too. Kathleen’s only brother married but had no children. He died only a short time before Kathleen. He was older than Kathleen and not far off one hundred years. His wife is still living almost as old as he, they both in later years became Quakers. I think what helped them live a healthy life and old age was the fact they were avid Ballroom Dancers. I enclose some photos which may help.

Obituary for Hilde Maria Kriedl

 26.07.1923  –  17.03.2021

08.08. 1959                First Vows

05.06. 1965                Final Vows

Hilde Maria, was born as Hildegard Kridlo, on 26.07.1923 in Sierndorf /March, in Lower Austria. Her family moved to Linz when she was 11 years old, as her father found work here.  She was confirmed in Linz. Hilde Maria has another younger sister who still lives in Linz in a retirement home. The family was not very religious.

After finishing compulsory school, Hilde came to Vienna to learn the nursing profession. She graduated with a diploma in pediatric nursing. First she worked in an infant home in Haid near Linz.

The pediatric clinic was built in Linz in 1956. That’s when she started working here, as Sister Hildegund. She became a ward sister in the surgical unit. A primary physician once said that if someone from the family had to go to the hospital, then only to Sr. Hildegund’s ward.

She was known as a “practical” nurse, with common sense and a lot of competence. At that time the time of hospitalization of the children was much longer than today. e.g. in case of an appendectomy a child was in the hospital for at least 2 weeks. Hilde was very eager to keep the children busy. With a lot of talent she led handicraft lessons and the children also learned to play drama.

The festivals of the year – eg. at Christmas also performed a shepherd play, Easter or the carnival were duly celebrated. Hilde also never forgot the birthdays and name days of the children. A priest who was a hospital chaplain once told me: “I cried so much as a 9 year old when I was being released from the hospital. I felt so at home with Sr. Hildegund.

I got to know Hilde Maria when she was already retired. In the children’s hospital she was still spoken of as a strict but fair ward nurse. What really mattered with her was human kindness, attention and love for the sick, along with competent nursing care.

Retreats were offered by the nursing association. Hilde Maria attended and felt God’s call to follow Him more closely.

For a few years she resisted. – “No but not ME”

But the Ignatian spirituality of the Jesuits appealed to her very much.

She met Elfriede from our Society while attending a course for ward sisters. Through her she learned about the Secular Institute “Our Lady of the Way”. Hilde applied for admission and was accepted by the General Director, Maria Elisabeth. On August 8, 1959, she made the 1st First Vows in Matrei am Brenner. On June 5, 1965, she made the Final Vows.

On two occasions I was able to go on vacation with Hilde to the sea, – to Crete and Croatia. Unforgettable weeks, with praying the Liturgy of the Hours together, resting and, if possible, visiting a Holy Mass. She was very happy to go on vacation with a fellow sister. With Marianne she liked to go hiking in the mountains.

Despite the fact that she was no longer able to participate in the community events during the last years, as she was already confined to a wheelchair, Hilde Maria still took an active part in the life of the society.

Prayer for the “young” was a matter close to her heart. She prayed especially for Lucie from Prague. She was very happy when I gave her a photo of her.

Finding it already difficult to care for her home, she moved to an nursing home. The home was run by the Sisters of St. Francis. So Hilde had the possibility to celebrate the holy Mass daily. To her this was a great source of strength.

Hilde Maria really lived “the devotion”. She often said in the last years of her life: I like to pray, “Yes, Lord your will be done, although it is not easy for me to accept the discomforts of old age.”

On February 21, Hilde Maria had a stroke from which she never recovered. Her speech was already very difficult to understand, it was more of a slur. When I visited her on March 17, 2021, she was breathing very heavily. While I held her hand and prayed, her breathing became calmer until she took her last breath.

May God now richly reward you, dear Hilde, for all the good you have done in your long life.

by Gerti Spörker

Obituary für Magda Anna Stadlinger

10.04.1930 –  05.11.2020

22.07.1956    First Vows

28.07.1962    Final Vows

Our MAGDA was born on April 10, 1930 in Munderfing, in the Innviertel, in Upper Austria. Her Christian name was Anna. She had 2 brothers and sisters. She was confirmed in Linz.

She became an elementary school teacher and for many years was the principal at the school in Kirchdorf am Inn. She was awarded the ring of honor by the municipality.

She was admitted to the Society by Maria Elisabeth – our Foundress.

On July 22, 1956, she made the First Vows in Puchberg and on July 18, 1962, her Final Vows.

All her life she was very much attached to the Society.

Through many years, in addition to all her other responsibilities, she cared for her sister and thus was only able to attend Society meetings at short notice. However, after her sister’s death, she was no longer able to fully regain her strength and thus could no longer participate in Society events owing to increasing old-age ailments.

Nevertheless, she wanted to celebrate the anniversary of her Oblation with the Society. As a special sign of her attachment and gratitude, she took a cab – not sparing the expense – to travel about 40 kilometers to the retreat’s conclusion.

Her nephew told me that the Society was a very personal hub of life for his aunt.

Until the beginning of the Corona pandemic, she still went to Holy Mass by car, which always gave her a lot of strength.

Magda, despite increasing discomfort, was still with her sore legs in her apartment in Ried im Innkreis, where she had lived since retirement. After many a hospital stay, she was always happy to come home. She gladly made use of mobile care services.

She was very open-minded and interested in everything until her old age. In her parish she was a lector and rosary prayer leader for many years.

After an infection with covid, she died suddenly only 8 days later on November 5, 2020.

The Lord repay her for all the good she did, whether at work or in the Society- and in His mercy let her pass into Eternal Joy.

Gerti

 

 

 

Obituary for Christel Müller (10.10.1937 – 27.09.2020) 

by Marianne Kreuzer

born 10.10.1937 in Koblenz, Germany, where she lived in her parents’ house until she passed away.
First Vows 16.5.1964
Final Vows 30.5.1971

MEMORIES of CHRISTEL by Marianne / Linz

My relationship with Christel Müller first began in May 1964.

At that time we both attended the retreat of our community in Salzburg at the Mönchsberg, with the Pallottine Fathers, in order to prepare ourselves for the FIRST VOWS. On 16.5.1964 we shared this celebration in the circle of our community with much joy. Since that day, this date has especially united us and there was always a phone call on this memorial day where we refreshed our memories of the First Vows.

Christel felt very close to the Austrian co-sisters and often and gladly participated in our contemplative retreats.

At that time she was already suffering greatly from her diabetes. Her eyesight deteriorated so much that she became almost blind and could no longer come to community meetings or retreats.

As an isolated member, she was affiliated with the Linz area. She wanted Herta Bock, with whom she was in very lively telephone contact, to be her Ratio Guide. Herta informed her about what was happening in our group and not a meeting went by where Herta could not report on Christel and share greetings from her.

Through the encounter with Christel at contemplative retreats of the community, my relationship with her also strengthened. So the two of us were also very often in telephone contact. We gladly exchanged our experiences and opinions, often laughing happily.

A few weeks before her death, I received another call from her, inquiring how I and Herta, who in the meantime already had to live in a nursing home, were doing.

It was shocking for us when suddenly on September 27, 2020, in the morning the news came: “Christel is in the hospital and she is very bad, we should pray for her”. The same day we received the sad news that she was allowed to go home to God.

We pray for her and in God we remain warmly united to her.
We believe and hope that she is also an intercessor for us.

Obituary Maria Theresia Trummer (02.04.1921 – 03.08.2020)
by Sabine Plöb

Maria Theresia Trummer was born on April 2, 1921 in Graz. After school she soon had to go to work to relieve her parents. Her great talent was drawing and painting. In her curriculum vitae she wrote: “Since I was able to hold the pencil, I have always enjoyed drawing. Preferably flowers and animals”

This talent she also made available to the community time and again. In many worksheets one could admire her beautiful drawings. Besides working in the office, she attended courses to become a technical draftswoman. Secretly, she took part in retreats, as her parents had little understanding for religious life. Maria Theresa found her way into the community through an invitation to an Advent celebration, where she said afterwards: ” The relaxed cheerfulness and kindness of the women towards each other fascinated me.” She felt it was a modern religious life.

In 2003 she had a stroke, in addition she had Parkinson’s disease. Tied to a wheelchair, she endured her illness with great patience, always friendly and smiling. Never did one hear a complaint. She was cared for by two 24-hour nurses, who looked after her lovingly. Her niece, who was responsible for her was always touchingly concerned about her.
After Maria Theresa received the last sacraments, she was allowed to go home to the Lord on August 3, 2020 – one day before her 60th jubilee and just under a year before her 100th birthday.
Her works of art, which she liked to give away on feast days, will always remind us of her joyful laughter. Her representation of the “Madonna della Strada” adorns the chronicle of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Institute in 1936.

May God grant her eternal peace!

Obituary for Lydia Schinagl (25.4.1920 – 05.05.2020)
by Gerlinde Slavetinsky

After the obligatory schooling, LYDIA attended the “Höhere Lehranstalt für wirtschaftliche Frauenberufe” in the years 1936 – 1939 as well as a private “Kanzleifachschule”, both in Salzburg.
On the professional journal of our institute she called herself a “correspondent” until she retired in 1978.

Lydia was admitted to the “INITIATION” on the feast day “Annunciation of Mary”, on the 25.3.1951;

At ” district meetings” she was perceived as an extremely friendly, but also reserved ” co-sister”, who was very conscientious as secretary. Her minutes, which she wrote after tape recordings during the priests’ lectures, were an accurate reproduction of the same, and were also able to give good insights into the organization of our meetings. In this way Lydia also wrote a kind of chronicle of Salzburg society life.

Her home was Golling, a market near the Pass Lueg, characterized by a proud church and a castle in its center. Lydia’s father, as an inspector for tax control, had his work and residence in Golling Castle, so Lydia grew up here as a “castle lady”. Later she had a condominium in Golling, from where she went to all meetings in Salzburg in “old loyalty” until her old age.

Although she was considered rather unobtrusive and inconspicuous to those who did not know her better, she had her own sense of humor and esprit that accompanied her throughout her life. The picture on the Obituary notice gives some idea of the secret abilities that lay dormant in her.
When she was asked to express her thoughts about a matter, she shied away from it and justified this by saying “that she does not remember anything and cannot articulate well”.
I had always suspected her to be a real Austrian according to Grillparzer’s “König Ottokars Glück und Ende”: “Think your part and let the others talk”.
This also applied to the last talks with her, a few weeks before her 100th birthday at the Golling nursing home.
Lydia’s hearing was already very poor and she found it difficult to hold a conversation, but she liked to talk about earlier times.
When asked about the present time events, her short-term memory sometimes failed, so that her most frequent answer was: “My name is Rabbit, I know nothing”. (this is an austrian saying) –( „ I have not the faintest idea“)
She usually underlined this answer with a mischievous smile, which she also had when she was asked about her upcoming 100th birthday. She could almost not believe it and even we “Salzburgerinnen” could not guess that we would not be able to visit her on her important feast day because of the Corona crisis.
Ten days later, on May 5, 2020, Lydia, according to the party, “strengthened by the Holy Sacraments, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 years”. Despite all her age-related “handicaps”, she radiated what we all wish for: the wisdom and serenity of old age, combined with the certainty of being secure in God’s love.
May she be an intercessor for us and for our Secular Institute “Madonna della Strada” with the Lord to whom she has consecrated her life.

Obituary for Teresa Nedumparambil Vareed (09/16/1930 – 11/10/2019)

Teresa N.V. was born on 16 September 1930 * in Kundannoor. She is the fifth of 10 children.

1952 After finishing high school she became a teacher
1954 she came to the monastery school in Chathiath as a teacher
1959 – 1960 she took a time out (without salary) and went to the Sisters of Mother Teresa in Calcutta – she stayed in this order for almost a year until she got health problems and was brought home by her older brother, where she recovered quickly and then worked as a teacher again.

She donated a plot of land to the parish, on which a church was built. This gave her the advantage of living very close to a church.

She made her first vows at the Secular Institute on August 22, 1976.
Her Final Vows she made on September 7, 1986.

She liked our community prayers very much.
In the community, she has held the position of a Ratio Officer since 2010. This means a representative and at the same time a confidante and companion with whom life decisions are discussed.

Her health was already very weak recently, but she was devotedly cared for by her sister-in-law.

On November 10, 2019 she was allowed to go home to the Lord.
In India, services for the deceased are celebrated for one week. After the last service, after visiting the grave with prayer for the deceased, all those present are invited to a meal.

The Lord abundantly rewarded her for the generosity with which she gave in life.

Obituary for Friedl Palmanshofer (January 23, 1933 – August 27, 2019)

Friedl Palmanshofer was born on 23 January 1933 in Alt-Melon, Lower Austria. Her parents were Leopold and Theresia Palmanshofer, née Böhm. Her father was a factory worker in Sarmingstein. Friedl had two siblings – a brother and a sister.
From the age of six until she was 14, Friedl attended the 5-class elementary school in Waldhausen, Upper Austria. At the age of twelve Friedl was given to a farmer by her parents. There she helped out in the family – but later also in the fields. In her curriculum vitae Friedl wrote: “Even though I had no interest in working in the fields at all, I nevertheless accepted this fate (…)”.

In the fall of 1948, at the age of 15, she had an accident and was admitted to Amstetten Hospital with a complicated ankle fracture. Enthusiastic about the nurses there, Friedl then decided to pursue this professional path. With some detours she became an X-ray assistant at the Vienna General Hospital and pursued this profession with dedication until her retirement.

She pronounced her first vows in Klagenfurt on April 2, 1961. On May 13, 1967, in Salzburg, she bound herself forever to the Secular Institute Madonna della Strada with her Final Vows.

She was a temperamental personality, who was unable to speak due to a stroke, so she was dependent on signs and the empathy of the nursing staff. When praying community prayer with her at her bedside, she tried to follow the words despite all the restrictions she endured with admirable patience.

She was housed in the senior home in St. Pölten until it closed down and then had to move to a new senior home in Vienna, which was a difficult transition for her, which she could not manage.

May the Lord reward her for all the good she could do for people in her profession.

Obituary for Helgard Schmidt (04.10.1941– 05.08.2019.2019)

On 5th August 2019 Helgard returned to her eternal home to the Lord. I chose the term “eternal home” for Helgard because after all these years as her ratio guide I am sure that she was looking for a home and comfort all her life.

Helgard was born on 4th October 1941 in Salzburg. Her date of birth (feast day of St. Francis) as well as the view from her birthplace into the garden of the arch-bishop led her into the atmosphere of the Church. She spent her first years of school with the Benedictine-Sisters at Nonnberg and also had piano lessons there.

After graduating from a high school for women in Salzburg she went to Innsbruck, where she joined a special social school for women run by the Caritas. There she trained to be a social worker.
Her goal in life was to serve people in need and this became evident in the profession she chose.

In Innsbruck she got in contact with the Jesuits and their Ignatian spirituality. She was trying to find this spirituality in the Society of Our Lady of the Way.
At the age of 25, on 31st May, 1968 she pronounced her first vows and six years later, on 1st June, 1974 she made her final vows.

In all these years as a member of our institute she had several functions: unit director, formator and ratio guide. For a short time Maria Josefa also entrusted her with the administration of the Salzburg unit. She coped with all these duties in an Ignatian way even if they sometimes became a burden for her

By attending retreats in St. Andrä /Kärnten for many years she expressed her profound solidarity with the spirituality of St. Ignatius. F. Urban became her spiritual guide. After F. Urban’s death, it was the Jesuit Willi Lambert who accompanied Helgard with his literature for the rest of her life. Every time I visited Helgard in the old people’s home, she read to me from the booklet written by Willi Lambert which she was reading at the time. About two months before she died this was no longer possible.

If I were asked what Helgard’s life motto was, I would say “Searching and Asking” – the theme of the General Assembly in 2018. What was Helgard looking for all her life?
Comfort, being accepted as the person she was – with all her inconsistence, her longings and her great artistic talent.
Maybe she often asked herself “Where can I find this?” “Could it be in the institute I joined – with Jesus in the centre?”

Maybe she also asked herself how to have successful relationships. Her personal answer:
to take loving care of people – listen to them, take their needs seriously, give them shelter and loving attention.

Helgard was always looking for all of that for herself: Now the Lord finalized her search and gave an answer to all her questions. Now she is in a place where the love of Jesus Christ extinguishes all uncertainty and fear and replaces them with clarity.

She was very generous and shared the little she had, often to the limit of her possibilities. When the disciples asked Jesus why they should follow him, the poor Jesus, he said: “You will be repaid thousand-fold”.
I wish Helgard from the bottom of my heart that her searching and asking have found a very happy end.

Obituary for Theresia Gansch (30.07.1934 – 28.03.2019)

Theresia Gansch was born on 30th July 1934 in Frankenfels in the Pilachtal.

She had an older and a younger sister. She very much loved the country and her family’s mountain farm. It was not until she was 36 years old that she left home to work in the Caritas home St. Elisabeth, an old people’s home. To begin with she worked in the garden. After having taken courses in caring for old people she was able to work in the care service.

She overcame her home-sickness with her strong faith, her friendship with her colleagues and by helping in her parish. The question: What else does Jesus want from me (?) grew louder and louder in her. Through the contact she had with our institute and by taking part in the retreat in Salzburg she was sure: “This is my path, this is where God wants me.” The institute was so precious to her that she took part in all events with great joy.

She took her first vows on 23rd September 1983 and her final vows during the institute’s journey to Spain in Loyola in St. Ignatius’s room on 5th September 1990.

In 2008 she moved to the old people’s home she had worked in. For some years she came to our meetings from there. Her health deteriorated. Her care givers were very loving and also fulfilled her religious needs by praying with her and playing hymns to her.

Resi passed away on 28th March 2019. With love and thankfulness we keep her in our hearts.

Obituary for Gisela Schwerer (25.12.1923 – 09.03.2019)

Gisela was born on 25^th December 1923 and spent her childhood together with her many siblings in Novi Sad. Before and during WW II she lived with her uncle, who was a priest, in the village of Kruschiwl. In 1944 she was taken from there to an internment camp, where she and her sister Manzi were subjected to forced labour. In autumn 1945 she fell ill with typhus and because she was just a labourer she was left to die in the „sick ward“ without any treatment.

It was a miracle that she survived and in November 1945 she was able to return to her secretarial work, which gave her a special status in the camp. End November 1946 she was allowed to go the central camp in Kruschiwl to join her parents and siblings. Together with her sister Manzi (who had survived the camp because she was the hairdresser) she fled the camp in spring 1947 and came to Austria via Hungary. She ended up in Vöcklabruck, where she found a job in the parish and met Berta, who told her about the institute.

Gisela took her first vows on 13^th August 1960 and her final vows on 8^th September 1968.

In 1962 she took the decision to leave Vöcklabruck and move to Munich, which was very difficult for her, but she was a German citizen and her family lived in Munich. She worked for the Caritas and lived in the institute flat in the Giselastraße from 1969, where, beside her profession, she was very busy with institute matters.

She was always in close contact with the members in Salzburg and Linz, whom she knew from her years in Vöcklabruck. We will always remember her cheerful manner and her mischievous smile, which she always maintained, although she had many difficult times during her life.

On 9^th March 2019 she returned home to the Lord. May He repay her abundantly for all the good she did for the institute and the people she met during her long life!

Obituary for Maria Aurora Agustines (28.12.1932 – 19.02.2019)

A writer, a teacher, a counsellor, that is Maria Aurora Agustines, Rors as we fondly call her in our institute. Rors was born on 28^th December, 1932 to a religious family whose eldest sister, Sister Anita entered the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Sister Teresita joined the ICM, Clarita, the 3^rd one, got married and Rors chose to be a member of our institute.

She was one of the pioneer members of the Society of Our Lady of the Way which was founded here in Manila, Philippines in 1963 by Andre Emery of the Los Angeles Unit. She pronounced her first vows on 21^st November, 1964 and had her final vows on 1^st March, 1970. She took on several different offices during her time of membership sich as unit director, formator, deputy unit director and ratio sister.

In the early days of the Institute they were able to invite a great number of women but only a few have persevered and responded to the call. She was a very prayerful person and had a good foresight. She initiated the move of having a formation centre that was supported by the members and is used until now for the activities of the members for meeting, recollection and formation.

As a formator she was a nurturing one but imparting the importance of discipline in each member because the member lives by herself in the midst of the world. She was a person with a deep understanding of our secular life and its mission in the world. Being the formator in the beginning stage of the Institute, she used to travel to Visayas on weekends for this work since she was a college professor then.

She retired early from work and chose to stay in Antipolo until she got sick and was confined to her bed. Even on bed of sickness she prayed for the Institute and for each member.

Rors’s life was a total commitment to God. She joined the Father on 19^th February, 2019. Her remains were buried in Baguio City.

Obituary for Karoline Schiffer (12.01.1930 – 11.01.2019)

Karoline Schiffer was born on 12th January 1930 in Bad Ischl. She was an only-child. As both her parents were also only-children, she did not have any relatives.

She was seamstress. She worked for the same company in Bad Ischl all her professional life. She also used her sewing talent for the parish theatre and pastoral play group.

She first heard about our secular institute from her parish priest Thöni.

She took her first vows on 1st August 1959 and her final vows on 16th July 1965. She would have celebrated her 60th jubilee of first vows this summer. In the Linz unit she was our sacristan for many years.

She was a delegate at some General Assemblies (meeting of members from all the continents where members live which takes place every 6 years). The institute and the structural reform always meant very much to her. So it was probably divine providence that we received the approbation for our new Constitutions from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in Rome on the day Karoline passed away.

For nearly 30 years, she was responsible for the publications-stand in her parish, a duty which she took very seriously. Her other tasks were the Caritas house collection and the distribution of the parish newspaper. She also sang in the church choir for many years.

She battled against cancer for one year. On 11th January 2019 she was redeemed and was able to return home to the Lord – one day before her 89th birthday.

Karoline approached death and the path to eternity well prepared.

Already five years ago she discussed the songs for the funeral with the priest. With one sing she explicitly wanted the verses 1 and 3 to be sung and not verse 2, because it deals with religious doubts. The song is called: I stand before you with empty hands, Lord. She had also already ordered the remembrance cards – with our logo and the picture of Madonna della Strada. The Bible verse she chose was: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23)

May God repay her abundantly for everything she did for the institute, the parish and the people around her.

Obituary for Mila Calabon (09.11.1963 – 10.07.2018)

Mila Calabon was born on November 9, 1963 to a family of 8 siblings. She was second to the youngest. She finished her college education as a working student in the library of one of the catholic universities in her home province. While in college, she was an active member of the Children of Mary (COM), one of the religious organizations of the university. After graduation she worked as a field promoter and endorser of Grolier, a company which supplies books and cds for school/educational use.

She joined the Daughters of Charity but went out before her first profession. She had known the Secular Institute Madonna della Strada through one of the members, had her first vows on October 29, 2007 and on April 21, 2013 her final vows.

As a commerce graduate, she helped the Visayas and even Manila unit in the application and processing of our papers. During vocation month she helped in promoting vocations by joining in posting our poster in different parishes.

Three years ago, she worked in a Non-government Organization in a far-flung province of Northern Philippines, which specializes in organic farming and organic products.

After she was diagnosed with cancer, she underwent chemotherapy sessions and an operation. After more than a year of recuperating from the operation, just last March she complained about numbness in her hands which she remedied with massage and other therapy. This numbness spread through her whole body and finally this, together with other illnesses, lead to her death.

May our Madonna della Strada guide Mila to Her Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Obituary for Caridad Baradas (30.08.1940 – 30.06.2018)

Our sister Caridad Baradas passed away peacefully last June 30, 2018 at Iloilo City in the Philippines with her family by her side. She was 77. Her sudden death was due to brain aneurysm.

Born in Barrio Janipa-an East, Mina, Iloilo on August 30, 1940. She had a high school and college education at Pius XII Institute in Iloilo City where she got a Bachelor Degree in Education major in Catechetics. Then, she had a specialized training for Catechists at Mother of Life Catechetics Centre in Manila.

She taught and served as Chairman of the Department of Religious Education at Paco Catholic School in Manila. Her work motivated her to study her Masteral Program at De La Salle University. After 10 years of service, she taught and served as Supervisor of English as a Second Language Program at the Refugee Centre in Morong, Bataan for another 10 years at the same time served as Catechist for the Vietnamese Community.

She went to United States of America in 1993 and worked for 24 years. She served as Director of Religious Education Program at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Hackensack, New Jersey for 13 years and served as one of the organizers of Filpino Apostolate of St. Francis and Holy Trinity church. It was at these times when she decided to join the Secular Institute of Madonna della Strada, she took her first vows on 28^th July, 2001 and her final vows on 7^th June 2008. She attended all meetings and retreats of the secular institute.

She also taught English as a Second Language till she left for Philippines in New York.

After she retired, she served as Director of Religious Catechetical Instruction for Adults (RCIA) program in the Parish of St. Joseph, Lodi, New Jersey. On October 1, 2017, she decided to go home to Philippines for good.

Shortly before her death, she received a letter from their town Mayor that this coming September 9, 2018, they will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their town as Municipality and she will be recognized as one of the awardees because of her exemplary achievement in her chosen field.

Her sister called her Friday, June 29 at around 10am and they shared a lot of things. 4pm.she had a headache and 6pm was declared brain dead and the next day at 6:43am was pronounced dead. It was really fast. Her family was very much affected. This is the first time that Caridad stayed for a long time for maybe almost 40 years.

It’s a painful reality. But, God’s ways are not our ways. May Caridad find light, peace, happiness and eternal rest in Christ.

Obituary for Boni Mirasol (05.06.1937 – 26.03.2018)

Boni was an Elementary School teacher for many years: 15 years in a Parochial Catholic School, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, and another 15 years in Public School at Magallon, her hometown, also in Negros Occidental. She was very active in Church Organizations like Basic Christian Communities.

Boni took her first vows on 28^th May 1974 and her final vows on 29^th May 1980.

In 2007, Boni underwent hip bone surgery in Manila. Later on Boni was hospitalized two times when the steel was changed. She never complained no matter how much she suffered.

Boni was very patient and never failed to attend in all our Institute’s activities, annual retreats even when she was already in a wheelchair crossing the sea to Iloilo. She was a dedicated member of Secular Institute Madonna della Strada.

Obituary for Margaret Laughlin (17.08.1936 – 28.12.2017)

Dr. Margaret Ann Laughlin, PhD., died Thursday afternoon, December 28, 2017. Margaret was a long-time resident at the Santa Maria Nursing Home in Green Bay, WI. She passed away after a 13 year long battle from the paralyzing effects of failed back surgery.

Born in Kasas City, MO, she is the daughter of the late Dr. James F. Laughlin and Frances Meta (Johnson) Laughlin, RN.

Margaret earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from California State University, Sacramento and her PhD from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Margaret was a member of Phi Delta Kappa which is composed of recognized leaders in the field of education.

As a tenured full professor at UWGB in the Education Department, Margaret served on many University committees, served a term as department chair, was active in the National Council for the Social Studies, co-authored a number of text-books on the principles of teaching social studies, was an invited presenter at numerous national educational conventions, and was instrumental in monitoring numerous students as they pursued their future as teachers and scholars. In 2004 Margaret was awarded a Professor Emerita in Education by the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

Margaret joined the Secular Institute “Madonna della Strada” in her mid-twenties, took her first vows on 13^th July 1962, and her final vows on 21^st June 1968. She held many offices, including unit director, responsible for formation, procurator and finally general assistant. She visited Austria often and took part in the General Assemblies right from the beginning of her membership.

She is remembered by our members as having visions. She always wanted to take part in shaping the Institute, she had visions for the future. She was always well prepared for meetings, came with her file under her arm and participated actively. She was also humorous and liked to laugh. In her last years she endured her suffering very patiently.

During her stay at the Santa Maria Nursing Home, Margaret was blessed by the loving support of her dear and faithful friends. Our Society members in USA lived too far away to be able to support her in any way except prayer.

Therefore, the Society is especially grateful for the devoted care Margaret received from the many staff who cared for her throughout her long residency in the nursing home.

Now she can celebrate her 50th anniversary since final vows in heaven. May she be an intercessor for us, that the current visions of the new structure will be implemented well after the General Assembly and will bring a new upswing to our Institute.

Obituary for Cilli Frühwirth (22.10.1935 – 17.12.2017)

Cilli was born on 22^nd October 1935 in Gutau in Upper Austria and grew up with her grandmother. As a child she helped with the farm after school. She learnt to drive with a horse and cart as well as with the tractor when she was a young girl. Once she told one of her sisters that at the age of about 13 she sat down at the edge of the woods one Sunday afternoon. She felt such a great love for Jesus there, which helped her overcome many difficulties.

In Bad Ischl she worked in a household and trained to be a cook. Later on she worked in Grieskirchen. There she met a sister who told her about the Secular Institute and her enthusiasm was aroused.

On 28^th July 1962 she took her first vows in the Secular Institute „Madonna della Strada“, at the age of 27 she had already decided to consecrate her life to God. On 31^st May 1968 she took her final vows. From then on she shaped her life according to the evangelical counsels.

Ignatian spirituality was always a great concern of hers.

„Finding God in all things“ – this was also her motto in knitting and cooking for us, her sisters, and also for all her friends.

„Everything for the greater glory of God“ – was also her motto in the administration of our house in the Sophiengutstraße in Linz, a home for girl apprentices and students.

„Marian spirituality“ – she thought about God’s words, kept them in her heart and tried to live according to them.

She was full of humour and enjoyed a good laugh. She always endeavoured to bear witness to her faith.

1984 she moved to the Altenbergstraße and her new parish „Heiliger Geist”. She radiated comfort, reliability and friendliness, support much needed by young people. She was a calming influence for the people around her.

Sadly, her mobility deteriorated. After some years with a Zimmerframe she needed a wheelchair. The past seven years she was very skilful with her electric wheelchair. Despite all the difficulties, she remained young, interested, mobile and interested in life.

She loved her life and also meeting other people, but she was also prepared for eternity. She drew the calm in her life from a source which does not spring from this world, from trust in God, knowing that God means well with her, that He was at the beginning and will be at the end, that she can never fall out of His care. With faith in the resurrection she returned home to her creator on 17^th December 2017.

Obituary for Maria Hubero (10.01.1927 – 17.09.2017)

Maria Hubero, the eldest of three children, was born on January 10, 1927. She had a cheerful disposition and was very generous – especially to those in need. She donated a portion of her lot to the Society where the center of the Visayas unit is currently situated.

She joined the Society in 1970. On May 28, 1974 she made her first vows and final vows on May 29, 1981. In the institute she was a treasurer, and ratio-sister (= similar to a spirutal guide for members). She represented the Society in meetings of the Association of Consecrated Women in Iloilo (ACWI) and actively participated in its various activities.

She had a good memory, could remember birthdays of family and Society members, as well as close friends. She was also a talented musician and she set our institute prayer to music. She lived and died in the institute’s center.

She was a public school teacher. She used to be a member of the Legion of Mary and Apostleship of Prayer, and for almost thirty years, an active member of the neocatechumenate. She was a dedicated catechist. To further her knowledge, she attended modular classes and graduated the oldest (78 years old) from the Pius XII Institute of Catechetical & Social Studies last March 21, 2005.

Maria was a musician, an organist of the parish. She practiced songs for mass to first communicant pupils in various public schools. She also taught piano and organ lessons.

Maria was hospitalized last 20 August 2017, when the Philippine region was having its regional assembly (19-21 August). She was diagnosed with brain tumor. She was brought back to the center on 15 September, and on the 17^th, breathed her last. She was 90 years old. Although her last will was to be buried within 24 hours after death (a very rare occurrence in the Philippines), she was buried on the 19^th. The members of the neocatechumenate requested for the one day postponement because they wanted to prepare well the songs. Indeed, the singing was marvelous, accompanied by guitars, tambourine, and trumpet. Maria must be happily singing with the choir! Three priests celebrated the mass.

Maria had composed hymns and songs. Some of her reflections are shown in the poems she wrote. These are now part of her legacy.

Poem: „Desire“

I am already old

Being 89 years old

I have little energy to mold

I need on others to hold.

I want to go up high

In the space in the sky

Where I want to fly

Like a butterfly.

I want to be happy

As I am created to be

And live eternally

With God and His company.

Obituary for Hildegunde Bentz (20.08.1927 – 02.05.2017)

Hildegunde Bentz was born on 20th August 1927 in Linz. She was baptised Hildegunde Maria Berta in the town parish.

Before her birth her mother was given the advice to have an abortion, as both their lives were in danger. Her mother probably had pregnancy poisoning (eclampsia), but she chose life and everything went well. Today one would have a Caesarean in such a situation.

Hildegunde was the eldest of 5 children. She found faith through the family she was living with during her professional training and in 1947, at the age of 20, Hildegunde was confirmed in Vienna.

After school, Hildegunde went to a school to train as a teacher and later she took a course in theology.

She came to know the institute in Linz at the “Kreuzschwestern” (Sisters of the Cross) where she took part in a retreat. She took her first vows on 15^th August 1954 in Puchberg and her final vows on 13th August 1960.

She taught religion at different schools.

She met Father Antony Kolencherry at a retreat. From then on she supported him and his India mission energetically. When 4 Indian Sisters came to Chur in Switzerland from Fr. Antony’s mission she visited them, cooked and knitted a warm cardigan for each one of them.

In retirement Hildegunde moved back to Linz and rented a flat. She lived in this apartment until her accident. She fell and lay helpless next to the toilet for over a day until the fire brigade came, broke down the front down and freed her from her unfortunate position.

In hospital, Hidegunde soon smiled mischievously again. Upon being discharged from hospital, Hildegunde moved to the old people’s home in Leonding in December 2015. Henceforth, her nephew and his family were able to help her with everything. In the old people’s home she visited mass a soften as possible. Otherwise she celebrated Holy Mass daily with Kath-TV.

On 2^nd May 2017 she returned to her beloved Lord, as her family put it in her obituary. F. Antony came from Switzerland and held the funeral mass. He said, the sisters had said Hildegunde is no longer among us but we still have her cardigans.

Dear Hildegunde, may the Lord reward you for all the good you have done during your lifetime and grant you eternal bliss

Obituary for Dawn Nugent (05.11.1960 – 12.04.2017)

Utelene Natacha “Dawn” Nugent was born on 5^th November 1960 in Jamaica. She had two brothers.

She has an MBA in Marketing and worked as a Marketing Consultant.

She found faith later in her life and was baptised on 3^rd April 1997, her confirmation was on 3^rd April 1999. Her pastor for the past ten years observed her maturing in faith and also her commitment to the Church. She was involved in various ministries and was elected a member of the sitting Church Council.

She was accepted into initiation in our Institute on 6^th January 2017. Her formator worked with her on a spiritual level and observed her zeal and her desire to consecrate her life to God.

On 12^th April 2017, she left Church after a prayer meeting which finished at 8.30 p.m. She parked her car on her driveway, got out and was attacked. The assailant tied her hands, stabbed her all over and escaped. She ran onto the road screaming, her neighbours came to her aid and drove her to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

This was a great shock to all who knew her and also to the members of our Institute. Dawn was a very vibrant young lady, active in her Church and her work place, and she was getting along very well in her formation programme. Dawn was well known and loved.

May her soul rest in peace with the Lord.

Obituary for Peggy Gould (20.11.1929 – 15.02.2017)

Margaret “Peggy” Gould was born on 20^th November 1929 in Yarmouth, Maine. Her father had immigrated from Canada. She had 4 sisters and one brother, her youngest sister died at the age of 11 months.

She trained to be a nurse and upon finishing her education she started working in a small hospital near her hometown. Here she met a lady who had a big impact on her life and faith. From 1964 she worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, first in the emergency room and then in paediatrics, until her retirement.

Peggy was admitted into Initiation on 8^th December 1968 and took her first vows on 13^th August 1971. Her final oblation was on 9^th July 1977. For many years she was unit director of Bridgeport. In 2009 she was affiliated to the Cleveland group.

She was deeply religious and very practical too. She truly lived her life as a servant of God, putting the needs of others before her own. One member remembers her as a loyal and faithful Catholic in the Irish-conservative tradition.

She had to overcome many physical ailments like allergies, hearing, eyesight and heart. She spent the last years of her life in a retirement home in Bridgeport.

God has blest the society with a devoted member who is now among the great number of members who have preceded us to heaven. May all those, who have already reached their goal, as „triumphant church“, intercede for us here in the „quarreling church“.

Obituary for Elisabeth Stankewitz (15.06.1924 – 26.12.2016)

Elisabeth was born on 15^th June 1924 in Königsberg, East Prussia. She had no siblings. To start with she received private tuition, because she had health issues.

At the age of 12 she was allowed to visit a state school, but she had to stay at home often because of her illness. She came to the Austrian mountains when she was 17 years old and was cured of her tuberculosis there.

Her spiritual development was greatly influenced by a new young priest who came to her parish when she was 13 years old and also by a Jesuit.

In March 1945, she and her parents fled the Russians to Denmark, where Elisabeth was able to continue her work as nurse. After 2 ½ years the family moved to Germany, Elisabeth again worked as nurse for the Red Cross.

While she was a child and a young woman, Elisabeth had to endure 3 operations on her legs. After the last operation, she remained in hospital for one year and then in bed at home for a further year. A natural healer helped her to regain her mobility and she was able to visit a Catholic women’s school. She took courses in family welfare work and pastoral work and then worked as catechist. Later in life her health problems arose again and she suffered from bad arthritis.

She took her first vows on 7^th August 1965 and her final vows on 19^th May 1972.

Elisabeth lived on the outskirts of Munich and in older age was confined to a wheelchair. Although she had problems with her eyesight she still remained in her own house.

Her special hobby was to find out about the history of her village. She also engaged in different activities in her village to help people living there. Elisabeth collected old books and passed them on to the needy. This way she was able to keep contact with the people around her, but of course with increasing frailty this became more difficult.

On 26th December 2016, she passed away. May God repay her abundantly for all the good she did in her long life!

Obituary for Otti Stangl (27.06.1921 – 30.11.2016)

Otti went home to God on 30^th November 2016.

She was a likeable person, she was popular with everyone because of her friendly and grateful nature.

Some of her colleagues from the school where she had been headmistress for many years praised her correctness and empathy in cooperation. Over 30 years on they were still in friendly contact.

For the last 5 years she was in the Anna care home, and her humbleness and thankfulness were noticed there.

The Society was very important to her. She was unit director frequently and as ratio sister she was a loving guide. She seemed exemplary through her humble and harmonizing nature.

Her neat appearance and her friendly, open nature, also in old age, were very impressing.

She never spoke a negative word or a complaint. She preferred to endure everything rather than demand something.

May the Lord be her reward for all the love and care for the society and every single person she met.

Obituary for Teresa M.R. (07.04.1929 – 13.10.2016)

Teresa M.R. was born on 7^th April 1929 as the eldest daughter of Nedunilath Raphel and Mary.

After finishing schooling at the Government High School Maradu, she completed the Teachers’ Training Course at Our Lady Convent School Thoppumpady. She worked as a teacher for more than 36 years in St. Mary’s Upper Primary School Maradu.

She joined our Institute on 22^nd January 1972. The advice of Msgr. Immanuel Lopez was for her to join Our Lady of the Way.

She retired as a Head Mistress from her teaching career on 31^st March 1985.

Then she decided to fully dedicate herself to helping the needy. She taught against alcoholism and helped addicts to stop drinking through rehabilitating them and their families in various ways she could.

She passed away on 13^th October 2016 at the age of 86. May her soul rest in peace with the Lord.

Obituary for Mathilde Stögmüller (03.01.1916 – 09.10.2016)

Mathilde was born on January 3, 1916 as Aloisia Stögmüller. Her family and friends always called her „Luise“. She had 3 siblings. She was a handicraft teacher in secondary schools.

For years she cycled up to 10 km per day to several schools to teach there. Because she prayed a lot on her cycle rides during the war, she got through the turmoil well.

Her pupils regarded her highly. She had a special intuition for social hardships and was able to help many pupils to a good start into their working lives.

On July 24, 1955 she took her first vows in our institute. Once she told her niece that she had a teacher called Mathilde whom she appreciated very much. This is probably the reason she chose Mathilde for her society name. She took her final vows on August 19, 1961.

Mathilde was also a member of the „Seniorenbund“ (senior citizen association) and of the Catholic women’s movement.

When her time allowed it she went on holidays in the mountains with groups of children from her parish to cook for them.

During her retirement she ran her parish priest’s household for over 20 years.

Since autumn 2015 she could barely speak and was lovingly cared for at home by her family.

She died peacefully at the age of 100 within her family on Sunday October 9, 2016.

Three priests concelebrated her burial service. Monsignor Kern said our Luise was both „Martha and Mary“. She ran his household carefully but her close union with God also shaped her and gave her the strength to master her life.

May God repay you abundantly for all the good you did in your long life.

Obituary for Margareta Brus (28.09.1930 – 07.04.2016)

Margarete Brus was born on September 28, 1930 in Rottenmann in Styria. She spent much of her childhood with her grandparents who owned a bakery.

Later she moved to Reutte in Tyrol with her mother and accepted a job as correspondent and accountant at the “Reuttener Textilwerke” where she worked from December 12, 1949 to February 28, 1961. The rest of 1961 she worked for the company „Electonic” in Stanzach. From January 2, 1961 up to her retirement on January 4, 1987 she was head secretary at the electricity works in Reutte. She was very competent and conscientious in her work.

Margarete was very religious and joined the Secular Institute Madonna della Strada. Due to the former strict discretion her colleague from work heard of this membership only shortly before her death. Margarete wanted to declare her commitment to the Lord through works and not words. Therefore it was natural to her to that she supported the different ways of spreading the “Good News” by typing scripts for authors, supporting orders and Christian print media. People in her environment who were in need could count on her help and comfort. “We would never have believed that she can help us so much” said an aquaintance after her death “because she lived such a modest life.”

She was very interested in subjects concerning the Catholic Church and also its upheavals. She very much admired Pope Benedict XVI – also Saint Francis.

In spite of her many pains she never lost her wit and openminded view.

She had consecrated her heart to Jesus Christ and was embedded in the love of God – that was her source of strength. Now she has gone home to HIM. May the Lord reward her generously for all the good she has done!

Obituary for Edwina Fernandes (08.09.1947 – 24.12.2015)

Edwina was born on 8th September, the birthday of Mother Mary, in the year of India’s independance, in 1947. She had 4 brothers, 2 of whom were twins. She was very attached to her mother, as her father had died while she was still young. 2 of her brothers married, the twins remained unmarried, one was disabled, and they lived together with Edwina and her mother. She cared for her brothers until their death 8 years ago. The loss of her mother in 2013 hurt her very much.

Edwina was a teacher, for 33 years she taught at the St. John the Evangelist School in a suburb in Mumbai. She had to travel 3 hours back and forth to work but she hardly ever missed a day in school. In the last few years she was promoted to the post of the Vice Principle. After her retirement she worked as an honorary teacher and librarian at the St. Xavier’s Institute of Education until she developed cancer in 2014. She was much loved by her pupils, so they started a fund to support her chemotherapy. She had endured an operation and many chemotherapies bravely until the Lord called her home to him on 24th Decmeber 2015.

Edwina joined the Society in 1997. She wanted to make sure that she could live the vows well so after much thought and prayer she professed her first vows on 11th March 2001 and her final vows on 13th August 2006. She was very committed to the Society and was first secretary in the unit, then treasurer and finally unit director. She was also ratio sister. She lived the life of an ordinary simple woman and cheered those she met in her soft simple manner. The people in her parish said she was a “gem of a human being.”

We in India and especially the Mumbai unit miss her dearly but we know that she will be interceding for us in heaven. May she enjoy heavenly bliss.

Obituary for Teodora E. Tadoc (23.07.1924 – 21.08.2015)

Teodora, or Teddy as she was called, was born on 23rd July 1924 and had 3 sisters. She was her fathers favourite because she was more cerebral than her sisters. She went to the nuns of the Holy Spirit school and for college she went to the University of the Philippines. She worked as a consultant and scout guide for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

At a girl scout jamboree in India she heard about the Society for the first time and felt she had a vocation. She returned to Manila when she had heard her mother had had an accident making her an invalid and took care of her mother for several years until she died.

Teddy applied for membership and took her first vows on 30th April 1986 when Nora was unit director. She took her final vows on 26th May 1992. Her first job as a member was to work for a Jesuit organisation for the deaf and blind at Ephepheta for a decade. When she retired from that she was hired as an instructor at Trinity College in Quezon City teaching the English Language and Psychology. After her retirement she worked in her parish for as long as she was able.

From 2009 her health had deteriorated so much that she was no longer able to take part in unit meetings and retreats. But her ratio sister visited her every 2 months and so she stayed in contact with the Society. She had a stroke that paralyzed her limbs and took away her power of speech and died on 21st August 2015, after she had received the last rites.

Teddy had deep spirituality and had no problem praying. She lived in the presence of the Lord and practised a lively faith. Now she rests in peace with Our Lord and our deceased members. Please pray for the eternal repose of her soul.

Obituary for Johanna Maria Forstner (03.07.1925 – 25.06.2015)

Our sister Johanna Maria was called to the Lord on 25^th June 2015. Johanna Maria was born on 3^rd July 1925 and spent her childhood with her parents and two siblings in St. Marien near Neuhofen a.d. Krems, in Upper Austria. After school she chose to become a caregiver and found her professional fulfillment in her work for the youth welfare department of the province of Upper Austria, where she counseled young people. She liked to talk about her work and was happy to help young people with their start in life.

She took her first vows in our society on 9^th September 1956 and her final vows on 8^th August 1964. She attended society meetings gladly and regularly. She liked to help when necessary e.g. in the kitchen, looking after plants and also helping in the sacristy. For several years she did editorial work for the “Werkblatt”. She loved to talk to her fellow sisters, especially about religious topics and was open for and interested in questions on the development of the church.

As pensioner she was often active in her parish, especially where events for the elderly were concerned.

Prayer before the tabernacle was always important to her and her joy.

An accident brought a turning point in her life. A car that reversed out of a parking lot carelessly hit Johanna Maria. She was hurt so badly that she could no longer look after herself in her flat. She was moved to an old people’s home where members of the society were not able to visit her very often. But she was close to her family who cared for her lovingly. At the home she missed her daily Holy Mass, there was only Mass once a week. So she celebrated Holy Mass via Radio Maria and visited the home’s chapel daily.

We were shocked by the news that she had a femoral neck fracture at the age of 89 and was taken to the hospital in Linz and had to have an operation. Now we could easily visit her. After a while she returned to the home.

On 25^th June 2015, at 3 am, a week before her 90^th birthday she died peacefully, to complete her life in God. May God reward Johanna Maria all the good she did in her life with his joy and peace. We will keep our fellow sister in fond memory and will remember her in our prayers.

Obituary for Teresia K.T. (13.05.1931 – 28.01.2015)

Teresia K.T. was born on May 13, 1931. She had three brothers and two sisters. She was a member of the Ernakulam unit and took her first vows on February 2, 1973 and her final vows on September 8, 1984.

She studied to become a teacher in a school run by Franciscan Missionaries. After having successfully completed her studies she briefly worked as a teacher in a primary school run by Carmalite sisters, later she was a teacher in a school managed by her parish preach.

This photo is from her obituary, Teresia died on January 28, 2015 and Maria Christine attended her 7th day requiem during her visit in India. May she rest in peace!

Obituary for Mollie S. Massa (09.10.1926 – 19.01.2015)

Our dear member Mollie was called to the Lord on 19^th January 2015. She was born in Bristol, Rhode Island on 9^th October 1926, her parents were Joseph and Mary Silvia. She was one of four children, with two brothers and one sister. She had 3 children, two sons and one daughter.

After having been divorced she joined the Society*. She came to know of the society by the priest who had blessed her sick daughter. She took her first vows in July 1986 and final vows in May 1992.

She lived in Silver Creek. After her brother had furnished her with a cell phone she was able to keep close contact to other members, especially Mary Ann and the members from Jamaica. She visited AIDS patients regularly, which shows her deep compassion. She was a very prayerful and kind-hearted lady and deeply spiritual.

Mollie suffered many physical ailments and was called to the Lord on Monday January 19^th 2015 in her sleep. She had developed conjunctive heart frailer after treatment for a sore on her leg. Her body was cremated and the funeral Mass was at St. Elizabeth Church in Bristol on May 19^th 2015. Her cremated remains were placed in her parent’s grave in Bristol, Rhode Island.

May she rest in the peace and love of God, whom she served so well during her life.

* Explanation: Divorcees can join the society if the husband gives his consent.

Obituary for Raphaela Rommel (19.03.1929 – 20.09.2014)

On 20^th September 2014 our dear member Raphaela Rommel died at the age of 85. Raphaela was the only child of Katharina and Josef Rommel, she was baptised Josefine, but adopted the name Raphaela as her society name. At the age of seven she suffered a ruptured appendix and a peritonitis and had to stay in a Viennese hospital for nearly half a year. The wound never healed completely and she suffered from it for the rest of her life.

After business school she worked as accountant for a tax consultant. Through a colleague at work she came to know the society. Her aunt, who was a nun, encouraged her to follow the call of Jesus Christ. On 29^th May 1955 she took her first vows and after seven years, on 11^th August 1962, her final vows.

Prayer and reflection on the Holy Scripture were of central importance to Raphaela. Deeply touched by a word from the Scripture she could master her daily life and everything that came her way.

She was an understanding listener in her job and in her private life as well. Raphaela was an advocate for all those who did not get their fare share in life. She cared especially for a disabled colleague at work.

Raphaela was treasurer in the St. Pölten unit for more than 25 years, ratio officer and deputy unit director. Her knowledge was also in great demand in central house.

In the past few years her health deteriorated and her strength left her. After a fall in July 2012 she was no longer able to walk and was confused. She was transferred to a home where she died on 20^th September 2014 at the age of 85.

We often think of her thankfully, with Raphaela one could always laugh heartily. May she experience dearly the Love of God which she yearned for all her life.

Obituary for Joyce Mathildis Owen (12.4.1933 – 13.1.2015)

Our dear member Joyce from Jamaica was called to the Lord on 13.1.2015. Before she deceased she was able to celebrate 25 years in vows in the Society. Joyce grew up in a large family, with 8 brothers and sisters, a family she kept close contact with, even when they were separated by large distances.

Her family understood the importance of a good education, and Joyce ended up with a Bachelor Degree in Theology and became a teacher. She also worked in various fields within the Catholic Church, such as the Family-Life-Ministry and the Pro-Life-Ministry and also within her community. After retiring from her work as teacher, she taught remedial english and religious education part time and on her veranda some evenings.

She spent decisive years of her life in England and Spain. In England she first experienced the desire to “do more for God”, in Spain she joined the Opus Dei. Back in Jamaica, after she had left the Opus Dei, she was introduced to the Secular Institute “Madonna della Strada” through a Franciscan nun. In our Society she found her true vocation. We will remember her as a generous, warm-hearted, considerate and truly loving individual. Over the years she grew in the love of God and deepened her relationship with Him.

Her family and her sisters in the Society remember her lovingly.

Obituary for Elith St. Quintin Magnus (27.7.1924 – 29.12.2014)

Our dear member Elith from Jamaica was called to the Lord on 29.12.2014. Elith was born into a Catholic family, received a good education and then started to work. After some short term jobs she received the job she loved most – working in the Archives of the Institute of Jamaica. She even received a medal in 1979 for her outstanding services to the Institute.

Before she retired fully, she worked for the Seminary of the Archdiocese of Kingston and at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Elith not only loved her work, but also her family with passion. She really lived the “family spirit” that was stressed by the  founder of our secular institute, Fr. Dinkhauser SJ. She also enjoyed being outside, as a child and also as a grown up, taking part in picnics by the sea, garden feasts etc.

Elith was the first member of the Secular Institute “Madonna della Strada” in Jamaica. Signs that she was called to consecrated life were already evident when she was a child. She did not want to become a nun, she did not want to marry, she wanted to do more for God. Fr. Francis Jackmouh SJ introduced her to Madonna della Strada, after reading an article on the secular institute in an American Catholic magazine. From there everything developed quickly, the secular institute was founded in Jamaica, Elith became its first member and watched it grow. Elith grew in holiness, deepening her spirituality and relationship with God.

She lives on in the hearts of her family and her sisters in the Society.