“My mother and father were of German descent, coming to this country with their families around the time of the gold rush in the 1840’s. Not to seek a fortune, they left Germany at a time of political unrest, heading to 'the land of the free. ’ My father was born on a farm in a log house which ‘left in rain and snow.’ My mother was also born on a farm, of a poor but happy family. They were married in Freemont, Ohio in 1904, and had to wait more than four years before I, the first, came to be their joy and cross. I received the name Bathildes Cornelia. With the passing of the years our family increased and our Lord gave me four wonderful sisters. In retrospect my early childhood is a sunny picture. And despite the fact that I received good grades, I never liked school.

My attraction to the religious life dates back to when I first came to know Sisters. The Notre Dames who taught me impressed me as exemplary nuns. In the upper grades we read “The Little Missionary. ” One day my eighth grade teacher asked me about my future. The implication was that they would like to have me join them. I answered, not too sweetly, “Oh, I’m going to be a missionary.” The life of the sisters in the foreign Missions appealed to me strongly.

The first seed of my eucharistic vocation fell to the ground about a year after that. My Grandmother used to tell us things she read in “Tabernacle and Purgatory" (German edition). This time she told about the Sisters at Clyde, and how the Sister Adorer at night would go to call the Adorers for the next hour saying, “Sister, Jesus is calling you.” This touched me very much and I didn’t think any more about being a missionary. From then on, Clyde was calling to me over the miles and over the hills, though I didn’t make the final decision for five or six more years. ”

Toward the end of her last year of High School she wrote to inquire about the life of the Sisters. After graduating as valedictorian she went to college, studying art, geography, music, and psychology; then she taught for two years. Finally she wrote back to Clyde and was accepted for entrance. “Afy first weeks were tearful ones, probably due to the fact that my ideas of religious life were too romantic, and that our Postulant Mistress, being old, did not understand us too well. During that time I lived in the hope of talking to my priest uncle who had encouraged my vocation and was to come for a visit. In the end he was unable to come; but by that time I was settled and no longer struggled with the temptation to leave. ”

As a novice, Bathildes was sent to State Teacher’s College in Maryville to continue her studies in psychology and education; then after making First Profession she taught at our St. Joseph’s Academy for girls. Over the years she worked in a number of areas, Correspondence, Printery, Altar Bread, teaching Latin to the Postulants, maintenance, greenhouse, sewing, and kitchen. She once commented, “My work assignments have been varied, so that it would be shorter, perhaps, to mention the kinds of work in which I have not been engaged, rather than what I have done

Besides living in Clyde, Sr. Gonzaga served in Mundelein, Kansas City, San Diego, Tucson, and St. Louis. She loved Latin, learned to play the organ, was interested in a variety of topics, had a pleasant disposition and ready laughter, and felt privileged for the many hours she spent, both day and night, in holy Adoration.

Two things in particular for which Sr. M. Gonzaga is fondly remembered: nature and poetry. She loved the outdoors. Wrapped in a cape, shod in loose sandals and stockings, she took in everything around her. She felt the sunshine and breeze, watched and listened to the birds, studied the plants, flowers, and vegetables to learn their medicinal value, and pulled out vines along her path that threatened to choke the trees. Often her appreciation of creation was expressed through poetry, which she loved to write and recite. Also her love for God the Creator, Jesus, the Eucharist, Mary, and the saints found expression in line and rhyme. At any moment Sister Gonzaga was ready with a poem or ditty to narrate for anyone -or no one- to hear. In later years when eyesight failed her she took great pleasure in being read to from a collection of books at her bedside, or just to be told a story.

Alert to almost the end, Sr. M. Gonzaga received the Last Rites two days before she died on May 2, 2006. She able to respond to the prayers, grateful to receive the Sacrament. Now, one with the Creator whom she praised and all creation which she cherished, her poetry of love will never cease.