Elizabeth Catherine was born on July 16, 1906 in Westphalia, Iowa. Her father was born in Westphalen, Germany and came to the United States at the age of five. Her mother was from Luxemburg, Iowa. Elizabeth was the second youngest of nine children, two girls and seven boys. Sister said of herself: "It was my earnest wish to take care of my mother in her old age. When I was eighteen years old my mother was called to eternity". So for the next two and one- half years she cared for her father and two brothers yet at home.

It was through the publication of “Tabernacle and Purgatory” that Elizabeth came to know about Clyde where she entered on January 6, 1927. On September 8, 1928 she made first profession and final Monastic Profession on September 8, 1933. 

After working for two years in the kitchen she became Sr. M. Clementine’s helper in the chicken yard. After another year at Clyde, Sister M. Hilda lived in Mundelein for a temporary three month stay. Her temporary assignment turned into over forty years spent in various tasks in Mundelein. When Mundelein closed in 1978 Sister transferred to our monastery in Tucson. While there Sister suffered a stroke which eventually led to our Health Care Center in St. Louis, where she transferred in 1983 after a two year stay in Kansas City.

Sister was an inspiration to all of us. Of particular interest to Hilda was her great devotion and concerned prayer for priests. So much so, that the Lord had a special gift for her at the time of her death. About twenty minutes before she died, she told Sister Joan Therese that she had to go catch the bus. Sister Joan assured her that Jesus was coming very soon for her. At that Hilda's eyes and smile became brilliant, and she simply asked for a priest. We ordinarily do not have a priest in residence, but one just happened to be visiting another Sister. So Father Bill was summoned, and Sister M. Hilda went peacefully to heaven as she was being anointed on March 6, 1988.