Sister M. Eucharia (Irene Matilda) Jakobe was born in Kansas City, Mo., on January 14, 1892, one of a closely knit family of four sisters and four brothers. Her father was from Trier, Germany; her mother from St. Louis, Mo. 

Attracted to our convent of Perpetual Adoration at Clyde through reading "Tabernacle and Purgatory," she entered in August, 1915. She was not concerned about what kind of work the Sisters did, but the fact that they prayed day and night before the Blessed Sacrament spoke strongly to her heart. She became a novice on January 29, 1916, and made her first vows on February 3, 1917, receiving the name of Sister M. Eucharia in honor of the Holy Eucharist. She tried to make herself worthy of this honor by special devotedness to the Blessed Sacrament. Sister made perpetual vows February 10, 1923, received Consecration of Virgins in November, 1952, and celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1967. 

In her day the Novitiate helped with the farm work, which was not easy for city bred girls, and not always for country girls either. But Novice Irene pitched in generously and never shirked any kind of work. Though she did not help with the actual milking of cows, she was at hand early and late on her appointed days to help take care of the milk and to wash the milk dishes. At that time too, the weekly laundry was done at the orphanage in Conception. The younger Sisters took turns in helping with this work, which meant strenuous labor from early morning till late afternoon. In this, too, Sister took a willing share.

A business course before entering had equipped her for secretarial work in the correspondence department which at that time was very heavy, including as it did the "Caritas Work" initiated in behalf of impoverished religious institutions in Europe after World War. I. All letters were answered personally - form letters were not yet in use. One who worked closely with Sr. M. Eucharia said of her that she put her whole heart and energy into whatever she did, and could turn out a big stack of letters in a day.

For a time Sister was prefectress of St. Joseph's Academy, was Subprioress at Clyde and later in Kansas City. She was in fact assigned to each of our priories at one time or other, though her stay in San Diego was very brief. Sister had a beautiful voice and was one of the principal chanters. She was outstanding for her fervent prayer life and for her fidelity in keeping the rule of silence. She is remembered especially for her ever cheerful, joyous disposition, her sparkling wit, her beaming smile and ever ready laughter.

In 1956 Sister M. Eucharia was appointed spiritual moderator of the Eucharistic Guild at the Kansas City convent. She was untiring in her labors with this volunteer group of women whose goal was to help liquidate the debt on the Kansas City property through various fund-raising projects. In addition she took care of the Mass intentions for many years, and was vestrarian and procuratrix.

Early in 1971, as her health had declined considerably due to a heart condition and other chronic ailments, Sister asked to be relieved of her responsibilities in Kansas City and to return to Clyde while still able to work. Back at Clyde, she resumed her former task of letter writing, a work dear to her because she loved helping people in trouble and encouraging them to deeper faith and trust in God. 

By June, 1973, failing eyesight and other physical ailments forced her to give up her typewriter (she was then eighty-one) and to take up residence in the infirmary. 

 After a long struggle through the night of Sept. 2, 1974 Sister passed away at 5:30 a.m. She was in the 83 third year of her life and the 58th of her religious profession. Her funeral was held the afternoon of the September 4, 1974  because of the Congregational Centennial celebration scheduled for the 5th, from which it borrowed the spirit of joy, so typical of her own personality.