Barbara Mayer was born in Ontario, Canada (of German-born parents) on October 4, 1862, and came to the States at the age of three. She entered at Clyde on Sept. 8, 1885 and was invested Aug. 24, 1886. On Nov. 17, 1887 she was professed as Sister M Alfred, and made perpetual vows on Nov. 21, 1893. She celebrated her Golden and Diamond Jubilees, and also had the privilege of Consecration of Virgins.

Sister was a first cousin of Sister M. Gertrude Mayer and, like her, had a large relationship in the surrounding area of Clyde, through inter-marriage. Her brother, Father Alfred, O.S.B., (whose name she bore) was Prior at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota for many years.

Sister was a tall, stately person, and though of a delicate constitution, she was one of our 'stalwart pioneers.' She helped at the orphanage for a time, and at the convent worked in the stitching room (church goods dept.) making vestments, etc. She had a talent for artistic embroidery, which she taught to the pupils at St. Joseph's Academy. (Incidentally, she also taught them how to darn their stockings - now a lost art!)

Sister loved prayer, and as someone said of her, "She was praying all the time." Her health declined over a period of years, and she suffered much, especially in the last few weeks. She died on Jan. 16, 1954 in the ninety-second year of her life and the sixty-seventh of her religious profession.