Sister M. Margrith

Born: November 27, 1943
Entrance: May 5, 1967
Professed: October 28, 1969
Died: July 1, 2026

After a long illness, God took our Sister by the hand and called her to be with Him in heaven, Sister M. Margrith, née Gerda van Beeck, Hospital Sister of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.

God has written us in His hand, and God’s hands are good hands.

(Cardinal Höffner)

Sister M. Margrith was born in Heessen, which is now part of Hamm, and completed her home economics training with the Sisters of Providence. She joined our community at the age of 24 and completed her paediatric nursing training at St. Franziskus Hospital in Münster.

She then moved to Lichtenvoorde in the Netherlands, where she worked on the paediatric ward. After returning to Germany, she undertook further training in community nursing at Arenberg near Koblenz, subsequently working in outpatient nursing in Friesoythe.

Subsequently, in Borghorst and Dorsten, she undertook housekeeping duties and cared for residential homes. She is particularly well-remembered for her organ and harmonium playing, with which she accompanied church services.

Following the dissolution of the convent in Dorsten, she became a resident of a retirement home. Initially, she lived at St. Heriburg-Haus in Münster, but due to renovations, she relocated to St. Franziskus-Haus in Nordwalde.

Sister M. Margrith returned her life to God late on the evening of the 182 anniversary of the foundation of our Congregation. She was the 7,228th Sister of the German Hospital Sisters of St. Francis and had made her perpetual vows 51 years ago. She now celebrates this feast in heaven with the Sisters who have gone before her.

We bid farewell to Sister M. Margrith with gratitude. Through prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist, we remain united with her in sisterly love. On Tuesday July 7, 2026 at 10 a.m., we will celebrate a Resurrection Mass for her at St. Franziskus-Haus in Nordwalde, after which we will bid her farewell at the parish cemetery, where she will be laid to rest. Afterwards, we can share our memories over coffee at St Franziskus-Haus