Josephine Schrader was born at Maryville, Mo. on Nov. 12, 1871, a younger sister of Mother M. John and Sister M. Agatha. Their father was from Luxemburg, their mother from France. Josephine entered in Dec. 1886 at the age of fifteen, and as a pioneer member was destined to contribute much to the upbuilding of the Congregation. A niece, Sister M. Thiadildis Kraus (Edith Marie) also joined the community later on.
Josephine was invested on May 5, 1887 and professed as Sister M. Innocent on May 5, 1888. Her perpetual vows were made on Nov. 21, 1893. She enjoyed the privilege of Consecration of Virgins in 1952, and celebrated both her Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
Sister was tall and stately, with a mischievous strain that twinkled in her bright blue eyes and found expression in many ways. She was nonetheless also a courageous person, hard working and self-sacrificing, greatly devoted to prayer. She was one of the prime movers in getting the printery established at Clyde and spent some time at Techny, with the S.V.D.Fathers, learning to operate the machines, etc. She was in charge of the printery for many years and worked closely with Father Lukas Etlin. Due to her good management, the Clyde publications passed safely through critical years of paper shortage without having to miss an issue, whereas others had to suspend publication for long periods.
Sister M. Innocent was also skilled in needlework and after her retirement from the printery, busied herself with making artistic patchwork quilts. Her health was never too robust; she suffered from heart trouble, tuberculosis and other pulmonary ailments, especially in her later years. For years she was a patient in the Infirmary. Through long sleepless nights, ejaculations flowed almost constantly from her lips: "Jesus, I love you, Jesus, forgive me and have mercy on me Jesus, Come!" or just the holy Name of JESUS. A pulmonary hemorrhage ended her life on the morning of Good Friday, Mar. 27, 1959, at the age of 88.