Sister Herman Marie Siebenmorgen

The third of twelve children was born to Appolonia (Wewers) and Herman Siebenmorgen on July 2,1924,  in Morrison Bluff, Arkansas.  She was baptized at St. Peter & Paul Church and named Crescence Agnes.  When she was 1 ½ years old, the family moved to Conway, Arkansas.  The family of ten girls and two boys grew up living and working on the family farm. Two of Crescence’s farm jobs were milking the cows and picking cotton.  Of those early years she writes, “ Having experienced God’s presence in creation on the farm working closely with my family, taking care of the plants and animals, I was given full responsibility for many jobs each day from the age of 4 to 22”.

Sister Herman Marie had a very sharp memory and loved telling stories of growing up on the farm, even going  back to when she was only one-and-a-half years old.  Already as a small child she loved talking to her mother and learning many of her ways as well as wisdom.

She attended St. Joseph Grade and High School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.  Following graduation from high school, she continued working on the farm to help her parents.  During the next few years, she thought of entering the convent.   She had a great love of Mary and chose to enter her Order, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, although a number of her relatives entered the Benedictines.

On September 21, 1946, she entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis, Missouri.  She was received into the novitiate on August 2, 1948, and given the name Herman Marie in honor of her father.  She pronounced first vows on August 3, 1949, and final vows on August 3, 1955.

Sister Herman Marie received a bachelor’s degree in English from the former Notre Dame College, St. Louis, Missouri in 1956 and a master’s degree in education from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri in 1962.

As a Catholic educator in elementary schools for fifty-two years, Sister Herman Marie ministered in  seven states and twenty schools.  During this time, she served as principal for seventeen years.  Because of so many transfers, mostly to fill in for someone else, she was known as the “Arkansas Traveler.”

 In 2001, she was transferred to St. Mary of the Pines in Chatawa, Mississippi and ministered in community service full time.  She assisted wherever there was a need - in the gift shop, in the chapel, visiting the sick sisters, creating items for the gift shop, etc.  One year she wrote,  “During this last year, my personal record shows I crocheted 7 Christmas trees,30 afghans, 295 kitchen towel tops, I cushion, 2 large doilies, and 1 shawl for the hobby shop. Amen. I love it”.  She failed to mention that many of the crocheted items won top ribbons at the state level.

Early in her religious life Sister Herman Marie was given the mission of letter writing which continued until a week or two before her death; she touched the lives of many people with these messages of prayer and support.

When the Sisters moved from Chatawa in 2020, she was transferred to Trinity Trace Community Care Center in Covington, Louisiana.   In July 2024, she celebrated her 100th birthday and her 75th anniversary of religious profession.  She passed away peacefully in the early morning of September 9, 2024.

She is survived by five siblings: Sister Dolores Marie Siebenmorgen SSND, Covington, Rose Nelson, Streamwood, Illinois, Bertha Gottsponer, Morrilton, Arkansas, Dolores Land, Conway, Arkansas and Lawrence Siebenmorgen, Morrilton, Arkansas as well as many nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

May she, who was once described as creatively gifted, assiduous, witty, generous in serving, friendly and interested, now rejoice in her new life with her loved ones who have preceded her into eternal life and with her God whom she served so faithfully during her 100 years.

Services for Sister Herman Marie will take place on September 20 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Covington.  Visitation begins at 10:00 followed by a prayer service/sharing of memories at 10:30 and then the Mass of Resurrection at 11:00.  Burial will be in the School Sisters of Notre Dame cemetery in Chatawa, MS. at 1:30 PM.  Services livestreamed at mhtcc.net.

Arrangements are entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Covington, La.

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