Mary Huppe was born on a farm near Cory, Kansas, on Sept. 26, 1879. She entered the Clyde convent on July 2, 1900, was invested Jan. 23, 1901, and on Jan. 23, 1902 made profession as Sister M. Laurentia. Perpetual vows were made on Sept. 27, 1907, and Consecration of Virgins was received with the large group at Clyde on November 16, 1952.

Having been raised on a farm, she was used to hard physical labor, and had a strong constitution and determined will. Though her formal education was limited, she had a creative mind and gained skill in a variety of crafts. Her availability for many assignments during her long life was proof of her spirit of obedience and self-sacrifice. From 1908 to 1912 she helped at the orphanage, worked in the bookbindery for about three years, and in the kitchen two or three years. Also in the course of her early years she spent some months traveling with a companion to solicit funds for the newly-built convent at Clyde.

Sister had charge of the garden for about twelve years, was procurator for a time, but her main work was overseeing building operations and maintenance, during the lifetime of Father Lukas and afterwards. From him she learned the rudiments of painting, building construction, etc., and like him exacted first class work from those under her charge.

Sister had a great love for the Mass and Eucharistic adoration, and a deep reverence and love for the priesthood. Like her sister, Sister M. Justina, five years her junior, she was mission-minded and utilized every spare minute to prepare religious articles for her priest cousins and two 'adopted priests' in the African missions. She produced statues and crucifixes of composition material with the use of molds; and mounted holy pictures, large and small; collected rosaries, medals, etc.

Sister was at Mundelein for a time, and spent fifteen years in the Tucson priory from its opening in 1935 until 1952, when she returned to Clyde to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. A malignant condition developed soon after her Jubilee, and she died on July 19, 1954, after long months of severe suffering. She was seventy-five years old.