Maria Anna was born August 29, 1894 at Leavenworth, Kansas. Her parents, Anton and Elizabeth, came from Germany. When her mother died, Maria was 14 years old, and she took up the responsibility of keeping house for her father and her three brothers, Albert, Ewald, and Anton.

June 16, 1915, Mary Anna entered as a postulant at Clyde and professed her first vows on February 3, 1917 and received the name of Sr. Mary Evangelista. Sister was one of our Oblate Sisters renewing her vows before her Confessor until she was allowed to pronounce her perpetual vows privately on the feast of the Ascension, May 15, 1969. This was one of the happiest days of her life. 

She wrote: "This is the day the Lord has made! My heart is overflowing with gratitude. I have often said, 'I'm thine, my Jesus, thine forever!' but today it is a little different. Oh, what a privilege to make perpetual vows after these many years!" Sister pronounced her perpetual vows publicly on May 2, 1971.

Sister lived at Clyde for 37 years working in the Correspondence and Altar Bread departments, and the Infirmary. On March 10, 1952, she moved to Tucson where she worked in the sewing room, making First Holy Communion veils, later teaching our sisters in San Diego how to continue that work. She then helped make Sisters habits. In 1968 she enjoyed her first homevisit with her three brothers. 

In January 1983, due to failing health, Sister became a member of our St. Benedict Health Care Center in St. Louis. She related that she had a "life after life" experience and was not in the least fearful of death. She longed to go home, but our Lord asked her to wait nearly nine years. She was always very interested in community affairs and although she became blind and quite deaf she wanted to be informed about the sisters and events. Having served the chaplains in Tucson she continued corresponding with them till her death.

While living in Tucson she acquired the nickname, "Sunshine," a name that describes how she was in our midst. Her life had not been without suffering , yet she spread joy just like sunshine with her loving smile and disposition. (On the day of her death, after weeks of ice and snow in St. Louis, there was bright warm sunshine!)

"Glad is my heart, and happy my soul...With the dawn of this blissful day, When my lips the words of grace pronounce, 0 Jesus, suscipe me!" This favorite verse must have been the song in our dear Sr. M. Evangelista's heart at 5:36 p.m. on January 18, 1991, when she died peacefully at age 96.