Sister M. Verissima

Born: August 3, 1931 
Entrance: April 7, 1953 
Professed: October 28, 1955
Died: September 11, 2026

Our Sister, Sister Verissima, born Klara Schwöppe, Hospital Sister of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, returned her life into the good hands of God, in whose service she had dedicated her life 73 years ago. 

Into Your hands I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

(Palm 31:6)

Klara Schwöppe was raised in Laer near Osnabrück alongside her ten siblings. The strong bonds within her large family sustained her throughout her life. 

It was at the hospital in Laer that she first met the Franciscan Sisters. It was there that her desire to become a nurse and a religious sister herself began to grow. At the age of twenty-two, she entered the Mauritz Franciscan Sisters, taking the name Sister M. Verissima.

From 1967 to 1977, she headed an internal medicine ward at the hospital in Kirchhellen. She then served as superior in Ascheberg, Haltern, Kamp-Lintfort and Oberhausen-Osterfeld until 1999. Her calm and caring nature left a lasting impression on the convents and staff at these facilities. She then returned to the motherhouse, serving in pastoral ministry at Haus Maria Trost for ten years. After retiring, she became a senior sister, first at the motherhouse and then at St. Heriburg-Haus. She has now departed peacefully to be with God, accompanied by her fellow sisters, who watched over her bedside and prayed for her.

Her relatives also visited her frequently. Sister M. Verissima was grateful to them for this. She had a particularly close relationship with her nephew, Theo Paul, the former Vicar General of the Diocese of Osnabrück.

We bid farewell to Sister M. Verissima with gratitude. In prayer and in celebrating the Eucharist, we remember her and remain united with her in sisterly love.