Hildegard Margaret was born in Fowler, Michigan, on August 3, 1909, the second youngest of fourteen children born to Peter and Theresa (Rademacher) Simon. The family was closely-knit, and each child was given some responsibility, depending on age. Most of their entertainment was provided in their home or yard, or those of their neighbors or friends. Hilda, as she was always called, attended St. Joseph’s school in Fowler, which was staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Racine, Wisconsin. Hilda was an avid reader, and she also did some “fancy-work” such as tatting and embroidery. Her mother had subscribed to Tabernacle and Purgatory in 1910. A serial entitled “”Twenty-four Hours in the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration” captivated her when she was twelve years old, but, since this was not the time for decision, she carefully hoarded the copies containing the articles and reread them from time to time.

After her high school graduation, Hilda’s pastor encouraged her to continue her education, but she had other plans. She confided her desire to him. After three years of waiting, Hilda told him that she felt it was time to enter the convent, and he gave his approval and offered her his assistance. Her parents and two brothers drove her in a new car which her father had purchased only a few weeks earlier. They stopped in Chicago to see Sr. Amadea and then did some sightseeing along the way. They arrived at Clyde on October 15, 1927. Hilda never saw her father again, but her mother came for her final vows in October, 1934.

As a postulant, Hilda worked in the kitchen and correspondence. Hilda made her first monastic profession on September 1, 1929, receiving the name of Sr. Amadea until 1968, when she requested permission to be called Sr. Hilda Mary. She made her final profession on October 27, 1934.

For years she worked tirelessly in the organizing and mailing of appeals for the construction of our monasteries in Mundelein, Tucson, Kansas City, and San Diego. She wrote in her autobiography, “While the building was going on this is what God expected of us and we did it and we don’t have to bemoan the fact that we didn’t have the leisure we have now. I don’t regret it one iota because we were doing the will of God and that is the highest spirituality you can have... that is holiness and I think God took care of our spirituality very nicely.”

In 1984, Sister Hilda Mary had the privilege of joining a pilgrimage tour of Europe along with her sister Agnes. The highlights of this tour were the attendance of the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, a general audience with Pope John Paul II, and a candlelight procession at Our Lady’s Shrine in Lourdes, France.

In early 1986, Sister Hilda Mary joined St. Benedict Health Care Center. She passed into eternal life on Monday, August 11, 2001, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Clyde on August 15.