Mary Anna Holl was born in Wurttemberg, Germany on Sept. 1, 1884, and grew up in a loving family of two sisters and three brothers. In 1908 her older sister, Rose, visited relatives in America. Not too long after her trip, Mary Anna left for the United States and found employment as a maid in a doctor's household in Chicago. She knew of our convent at Clyde through Sister M. Melania, who was from her hometown, and through Fathers Leodegar and Berthold of Conception. But it was not until two of the Clyde Sisters (Sisters M. Teresa Willier and Coletta Rast) called at the home where she was employed when soliciting memberships in the Association of Perpetual Adoration and subscriptions to Tabernacle & Purgatory, that she really seriously considered joining the community.

On June 16, 1911, Mary Anna presented herself at Clyde as a postulant, and on Jan. 13, 1912, was invested as a novice. She made simple profession of vows on January 18, 1913, as Sister M .Celestine, and perpetual vows on August 24, 1918.

From her early years in the convent, Sister worked in the kitchen, and this was her principal occupation for some twenty-five years, first at Clyde and then at Mundelein. Having charge of the large Clyde kitchen in those days was no easy task, but she fulfilled it faithfully and conscientiously. She was an excellent cook and spared no effort to provide wholesome, well-cooked meals to maintain the Sisters' health and strength. She also helped with the building work on the Relic Chapel.

On May 28, 1928, Sister was sent to Mundelein to be one of the foundation stones of the first daughter house of Clyde. After serving as cook until 1942, she went to work in the altar bread department because her feet had become painfully crippled with arthritis, making kitchen work very difficult. Sister M. Celestine was a hard worker, sacrificial and thoughtful of others, but never sparing herself. She was a fervent and faithful adorer, and loved the Divine Office and all spiritual exercises.

In January, 1963, Sister went to Clyde to celebrate her Golden Jubilee with her profession companions. Some six months after her return to Mundelein she suffered a heart attack and was taken back to Clyde by ambulance on August 7, 1963. The care given her at St. Mary's Infirmary quickly brought improved health, so that she was able to take up active duty in the infirmary altar bread room. Though her hands were severely crippled with arthritis, she was patient and cheerful, and took an active interest in community affairs. Her interest in the revision of the Constitutions and in preparations for the General Chapter evinced her concern for the future of the Congregation.

When in the fall of 1975 the central infirmary was transferred from Clyde, Sister was among the first to arrive in St. Louis. On January 20, 1976, she underwent surgery for a hernia at St. John's Hospital. Her stay was somewhat prolonged because of complications, but she returned home on February 4th. No sooner had she been comfortably settled than she suffered a severe heart attack, and for the next few weeks hovered between life and death. 

She became progressively weaker, and on February 25, 1976, yielded up her soul to God, in the ninety-second year of her life. She had celebrated her Golden and Diamond years, and was consecrated a Virgin. She was truly prepared to meet her God whom she had served so faithfully and lovingly as a religious for sixty-three years. Abbot Anselm Coppersmith offered the Mass of the Resurrection for her on February 27th, and the following day her remains were taken to Clyde and interred in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.