Sister M. Hedwig was born in Morrison Bluffs, Arkansas. Her parents, Helen Weissenfels and Louis Siebenmorgan, had come to the United States from the Rhineland, Germany, and found a home in Arkansas. Six older children had blessed their home before Bertha was born September 25, 1891, the oldest Anton, and Mary, then brothers, John, Joseph, Louis and Herman. In due time, after Bertha, Charles and Anna, twins, were added to the family.

Bertha early made the acquaintance of the Benedictine Sisters from Fort Smith, Arkansas, when she started school in Shoal Creek. After school hours, she had her farm chores to do, and in the cotton season, with her whole family, she shared in picking and harvesting the crop.

Pope Pius X's decree on First Holy Communion (Aug. 8, 1910) had not yet been issued when at the age of twelve on May 3, 1903, Bertha first received Jesus into her heart. It was a memorable day and perhaps the first seed of her Eucharistic vocation. Witnessing profession ceremonies at the Benedictine convent inspired her, and turned her own thoughts to religious life. But she did not feel inclined to teach as the Sisters at Shoal Creek did. God, however, had his own way of making known his plans for her. Her family regularly received from Clyde the German issue of "Tabernacle und Fegfeuer" which Bertha loved to read. Gradually she was led to write to Clyde to seek entrance there. A close friend, Philomena Bigge, to whom she confided her hopes, shared a similar desire. So together they started their journey to a new home and a new life.

Arriving at Clyde by train early in the morning of May 30, 1914, they walked from the depot to the convent, and were welcomed by Sister M. Gertrude Mayer, who set before them a good breakfast. Like other newcomers, Bertha and Philomena experienced homesickness and the other difficulties of adjusting to the regime of the convent schedule, but they were stouthearted and eager to give themselves completely to Adoration.

They received the holy habit on January 30, 1915, and began their novitiate. First Profession day arrived at last when one year later, January 30, 1916, they pronounced their vows. Bertha received the name and patronage of a German saint, Hedwig, and her friend became Sister M. Ambrosia. Six years later, Sister M. Hedwig had the happiness of making Perpetual Vows, February 4, 1922. The next six years were spent at Clyde, or at the orphanage in Conception, perhaps in the kitchen or bakery, as Sister was proficient in baking bread and loved to make bread and cookies.

As a young Sister, Sister M. Hedwig was a member of the schola group and sang the Gregorian chant melodies and motifs. Among the assignments of work during her lifetime, the bakery and altar bread departments had first place. She also served in the cannery, and when in Tucson helped with the care of the date harvest, making candies and confections. Sister was always at hand for any community work project, whether it was at the laundry, peeling, scrubbing and waxing floors or other. At other times she might do a little hand sewing. She was equally zealous for Adoration and times of praising the Lord at the Office or other aspects of the Liturgy.

Sister was chosen as a pioneer for the new community in Mundelein, which was opened on June 7, 1928, but the climate seemed not to agree with her so she returned to Clyde in September. She remained at Clyde until October 1935, when again she entered upon pioneer days, having been chosen for the new venture in Tucson, Arizona. She put down roots here, and remained till December 5, 1969, a period of thirty-four years. In Tucson, she received the Consecration of Virgins on January 6, 1953, and celebrated her Golden Jubilee with Sr. M. Ambrosia Bigge in 1966. A transfer came when she was sent to Kansas City. Here in 1976, she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee.

After fifty-four years of convent life, Sister M. Hedwig had the joy of a visit to her relatives in Arkansas. It was a special milestone in her life. Some members of the family were gone, but there were grandnieces and nephews to become acquainted with. This visit remained a precious memory.

Sister M. Hedwig's last transfer came on March 15, 1983, when she was removed to the St. Benedict Health Care in St. Louis, being then ninety-one years old. Ever quiet and simple, with a childlike obedience and devotion, she spent her last days more or less in her own room reading a large print book of the psalms and a life of St. Hedwig which she had. Relatives came sometimes to visit her in the infirmary. She reached her 92nd birthday on September 25, 1983, being at this time the eldest Sister in the Congregation. 

Her brother Charles and wife had planned to visit Sister M. Hedwig on Christmas day, but the cold was too severe, so they came on the feast of the Holy Innocents. Together, Sr. M. Hedwig and Charles shared happy memories and enjoyed the visit, which, as her death occurred that night, reminded the community of the last visit of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, when they spoke of it later.

Sister Joy Ann Wege was on night duty December 28, 1983 at the Health Center and went to Sr. M. Hedwig's room about 10:15 to check that everything was all right. She found Sister M. Hedwig just breathing her last, slipping away into the arms of God without even waking up. She had lived with the simplicity of a little child all her life, often humming a little German song about the Christ Child, and on the feast of the Holy Innocents her innocent soul escaped the net of death to be forever with the Lord, to whom she wholeheartedly had given all her life.

The community and several relatives gathered on the evening of December 29th for a vigil service in which the Sisters and relatives shared memories. The next morning at the funeral, Sister M. Hildegard Zerwas sang her favorite little German song, "0 Come, Little Children!" The Mass was celebrated by Abbot Edwin Cole, and burial took place on the following day at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Clyde, after a burial Mass there. The funeral homily was given by Father Paul White of Conception at the Clyde service.