Frances Cecilia Newman was born at Norman, Oklahoma, the first surviving child of 7 children, 2 girls and 5 boys. Her mother had fallen down a flight of stairs while pregnant, resulting in the death of her elder sibling. Her mother was incapacitated the rest of her life. As the oldest child, Frances helped with the housework from early on. The family moved to California when she was 5 years old. They settled in Maywood, a suburb of Los Angeles.

As a child she learned how to sew and to cook. After graduating from high school she worked out as a house keeper for one year. It was then that her childhood dream of becoming a sister urged her to start searching for the place God wanted her.

"My vocation story begins with my dear grandmother, my mother’s mother. She had always wanted to become a nun but due to circumstances, she was instead married at the age of sixteen to a very good man. My mother was the oldest of 12 children. My grandmother consoled herself that one of her children would have a religious vocation, but alas it did not turn out that way. ” Frances was the first grandchild and her grandmother was honored to be asked to be her godmother.

“Many years after I was in the convent I learned that when my grandmother held me in her arms at baptism, she asked the Blessed Mother to obtain a religious vocation for me. Her prayer was answered because from the first dawn of reason, I had this desire and conviction. Moreover, I had a picture in my mind of exactly the kind of nun I was going to be - not teaching, not nursing, but the kind that prays. ”

Her pastor wanted her to become a Carmelite so she could pray for him. She visited the Carmel in Alhambra and thought they were nice but felt no attraction to them. Frances also wrote to a missionary community but they told her she was too young. Trying to contact the Sisters of Social Service also went nowhere. Becoming discouraged, Frances asked her mother what she should do. “Write to the sisters at Clyde and ask them to pray that you find the right place. I always get help with whatever I ask them to pray for,” her mother told her. So Frances wrote to Clyde and she was sent the vocation booklet, The Eucharistic Adorer. She was also sent an application blank along with that! “On opening the book and seeing the sisters, 1 knew this was where God wanted me. ” When she talked it over with her mother, she was told her grandma was born in Conception, Missouri, and her mother also was born around the area and knew of the Clyde community. Her mother had not shared this with her before because she wanted to leave Frances free to go wherever God directed.

February 8th, 1939 was a cold day "but I received a warm welcome at Clyde,” she wrote in her autobiography. During the novitiate she worked at sewing and spent that summer in the canning room. She made profession on Feb 8, 1941 receiving the name Sr. Mary Demetria. Sr. Elizabeth Mary Meyer and Sr. Virginia Marie Sandhoff were her companions. The Divine Liturgy meant much to her and she would prepare for the various feasts with diligence and joy. For 10 years she worked at the laundry, mending clothes for the monastery and tending the laundry boiler. She also made and mended cucullas and veils for the novices. She made Perpetual Vows on February 10, 1946.

She also served as night nurse for 2 years in the Infirmary and tried to bring joy to the sick, especially to Sr. M. Seraphim Niedermeyer, who required much care. This night work seemed to undermine her health and she was sent to Tucson in June, 1952 where she regained her strength.

While in Tucson she worked in the altar bread department and then for several years making vestments. She was privileged to help with the drapery for the new altar when the chapel was consecrated and helped with vestments for Bishop Green’s consecration.

“The day of my consecration as a virgin, July 25, 1956, was the happiest day of my life because I was espoused forever to the Son of the Most High Father,” Sr. Demetria wrote.

She was transferred to Mundelein in the early 1960’s where she helped out in a variety of jobs: Altar Bread Department; kitchen; making collariums; Church work; and making habits and veils. This was a busy place when the habit was updated. There were all kinds of patterns and suggestions.

Sr. Demetria did much reading and studying, especially scripture and theology. She also was interested in history, psychology and liked reading biographies. Some of her other hobbies were oil painting, square dancing, playing cards and visiting with friends. To give joy to others was a high value in her life. Once when asked where she wanted to work she said, “It really doesn't matter because everywhere I can give joy to others.” She had a tender and very great devotion to the person of Christ and often spoke of this. “All my hope of pleasing God depends on my union with Jesus. My relationship with the Trinity and others is based on my union with Him. ”

Another glorious day for her was the celebration of her Golden Jubilee in 1991. She wrote this oblation for it which summed up all her aspirations, “O my God, every moment of my life and especially at the hour of my death, consume my whole being for your glory.”

Sr. Demetria started to fail on September 14th. After Eucharist on the 15th, Sr. Mary Annette took communion to her in her bedroom but she was unable to receive. Fr. Daniel Petsche, a monk from Conception Abbey, then anointed her and she died immediately after that, at 11:55 a.m. Sr. Virginia Ann was also present at her bedside.

The Mass of Christian burial was held on Sept 17, 2008.