Josephine Marie, the oldest of six children born to Harry and Rose Ann (Sommer) Roos, was born April 4, 1914 in Kansas City, Kansas, baptized on Easter Sunday, April 12, and grew up in a happy family closely united in their Catholic faith. She remarked that her parents' great love for each other and for their children helped them make sacrifices during the depression years to give the children a good Catholic education. Her father and his brother owned an electric company in Kansas City, Missouri, and her Dad did much charity work for their parish, school, and later for the Altar Bread Dept, at our Kansas City monastery.

Josephine attended St. Joseph's Academy at Clyde for four years, graduating in 1932 with a four year high school diploma and a two year commercial course diploma. After graduation she worked in an insurance office in Kansas City, Mo. then entered at Clyde on October 17, 1935. At her First Profession, August 30, 1937, she received the name, Sr. M. Raymund, returning to her baptismal name in 1970. August 31, 1942 was the date of her Perpetual Profession of vows.

After she entered as a postulant she helped Sr. M. Ehrentrude for three weeks with some sewing. She had been one of her sewing teachers at the Academy. Then she was assigned to the Clyde printery where she worked for the next 24 years. She was in charge of the printery for 13 of those years until she was appointed subprioress in 1959. She served as subprioress in Clyde, Kansas City and San Diego, was on the monastery council in Clyde and Kansas City, and was an elected delegate to the General Chapter five times. She also worked in the Altar Bread Dept., in maintenance and as caretaker of the grounds. Three times Josephine was a key member of the cleanup crew sent to prepare temporary convents and chapels for our new monasteries, including the Rockhill Road residence in Kansas Citv.

1962 when she went to San Diego as subprioress, she was there in time to spend several months at the Old Town convent, helping with the cleaning and moving to the new monastery on the hill. Josephine always enjoyed such experiences at our new monasteries.

After the first St. Louis General Chapter in 1968, she was again in Kansas City and was put in charge of maintenance. Who can ever forget the sight of Josephine riding the lawn mower up and down that very steep hill at our Kansas City convent? She was unable to hire anyone to take that risk, so Josephine braved it! Many screeching brakes were heard on Meyer and Paseo Blvd, as drivers paused to watch! When the Kansas City monastery was closed, she transferred to Tucson in December 1984.

Throughout her life no challenge had seemed too great for Josephine, and the final challenge of her life came when she was diagnosed with cancer in 1994. On January 4, 1995 she became a member of St. Benedict Health Care community. After her arrival the door to her room stood wide open to welcome all those who came over to greet her. She had told the nurses that she had many friends here who would be stopping by, and she did, and we did. However, as the months passed and her illness progressed, our visits were more limited because her strength also was limited. 

She had the joy of a visit with many members of her large family when they came together in St. Louis to spend time with a beloved member of their family. She also enjoyed visits with friends in our congregation when Sisters from our other monasteries came to see her. When it became apparent that her earthly pilgrimage was nearing the end, the Sisters kept all night vigil of prayer in her room for two nights and throughout the day. She died peacefully at 3:00 PM, November 25, 1995. Later when we gathered to sing 1st. Vespers of the Solemnity of Christ the King, we were one with Josephine and all the heavenly choir as we sang: 

The Reign of God has come now, and the power of his Anointed One,     Alleluia!