Sister M. Hilaria Stummann

Born: 13 February 1942
Entrance: 11 February 1964
Professed: 28 October 1966
Died: 09 June 2024

Sixty years after her entry into the religious community, the merciful God completed the life of our dear Sister M. Hilaria Stummann, Hospital Sister of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.

Now, Lord, let your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation.

From the Evening Prayer of the Church

Sister M. Hilaria was born in Hiltrup during the Second World War and grew up there with her three siblings. After leaving school, Irmgard worked in several families, where she was introduced to housekeeping. In 1961, she joined the hospital kitchen in Stadtlohn, where she got to know our congregation and the profession of nursing. After the novitiate, it was her great wish to train as a nurse. She worked as a nurse in Holland and Bremerhaven before coming to Telgte. There she was in charge of a ward for mentally ill women.

A serious road accident on 16 June 1989 radically changed her life. She suffered a severe craniocerebral trauma. Very slowly, she had to fight her way back to life. We admire that Sister M. Hilaria has accepted in such a good way her fate with the resulting disability.  She remained the cheerful and optimistic person she was before and she always encouraged others. In the early years, she lived in the Maria-Hilf convent for the elderly in Telgte. In 2014, Sister M. Hilaria moved to St Heriburg House in Münster. She always found ways to bring joy to her fellow sisters with her limited strength. She was particularly happy when people brought her sweets during the visits. Until the very end, she enjoyed eating them.

Unexpectedly and suddenly for us, God redeemed our dear Sister M. Hilaria on Sunday night. He surely took her tightly in His arms when she came home to Him.

Gratefully we say farewell to Sister M. Hilaria. We remember her in prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist and remain united with her.

On Thursday, 13 June 2024, we say goodbye to Sister M. Hilaria at 2 pm in the Motherhouse Church and then we will accompany her to her final resting place in the Sisters’ Cemetery.

Afterwards, we can share our memories of her over coffee in the Motherhouse.