Anna Marguerite came into this world, September 9th, 1899, one of 8 children born to Antoinette (Reiner) and William Koenig, in Richmond, Iowa. There is not much known about her early years other than the fact that she speaks of her family as being simple farmers, and that she had never left the state of Iowa before entering the monastery.

It was through her confessor that she learned about Clyde. Her father brought her to Clyde on the train, but no one came to meet them, so they walked to the Convent. That was on April 22, 1922, when Marguerite was 22 years of age. She professed first vows on February 16th, 1924, receiving the name Sr. M. Emerentia. Sister left for a brief period of time, and returned as an Oblate Sister. Her life was one in which routine encompassed the garden, printery, and Altar Bread department. 

During the renewal that followed the second Vatican Council, it was thought to reconsider the status of being an Oblate Sister, with the resultant decision that each was invited to profess Perpetual Vows. This she did on March 14th, 1971, a day that would live on in her memory as one of the happiest ever. 

She says of this period of her life: "I thought at that time to be an Oblate Sister all my life, but now I am prepared and most happy. Jesus said 'Come', and I said I am ready just as I am. With your help we can do great things. I won't be much different overnight, but I made the vow of Conversion, and therefore intend to move forward."

Sister came to St. Benedict Health Care Center in 1986, and was able to continue a small garden. Just before her death she gave some advice to several of the younger sisters at Clyde, on how to grow the strawberries in her former patch!

When Sister became aware that she was dying, she asked in her inimitable way: "How do I do it? You know I have never done this before!" Then she folded her hands and closed her eyes and said, "Is this okay?" She was assured she was doing fine... There were no dry eyes in the room as she waited so simply and so lovingly to be taken to her new home.

"...I came to Jesus as I was, I found in Him a resting place and He has made me glad." These opening lines from Sister M. Emerentia's Mass of Christian Burial, so aptly describe her and her life. Sister entered eternal life on July 2, 1990, at 8:20 PM., lovingly supported by her two blood sisters and a brother-in-law, and her sisters in community.