Mary Agnes Catherine Lager was born and baptized on August 9, 1901, the fifth of twelve children, five boys and seven girls. She was a native of Clyde, Missouri. The farm home in which she lived was just 1 3/4 miles northeast of our Clyde monastery, and as a postulant, she could look out the window see her house. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy for five years as a day pupil. For the first three years, she rode her pony, Nancy, to school. During her senior year, her grandfather died and left his old two-seated car to her father. Thereafter, she drove to school with her sister, Eleanor. Mary Agnes. Catherine entered the community when she was still a senior in high school, on March 24, 1920, and, as a postulant, was given the assignment of driving the community car. Many trips were made to the train depot, to the grocery store, and to the orphanage at Conception where our sisters were employed

On August 28, 1920, Sr. M. Leocadia, along with Sr. M. Tharsilla Noser, received the novice’s veil from Fr. Lukas Etlin, OSB, in the Adoration Chapel at Clyde. Both professed first vows on February 4, 1922. As a junior sister, Sr. M. Leocadia worked at the Clyde printery setting type and working at the cutter.

Sr. M. Leocadia pronounced her final vows on February 15, 1927. She spent the next two years working at the printery. She was transferred to Mundelein on August 25, 1929. to ‘fill in” for about two weeks. With the exception of two short visits home, she stayed in Mundelein for forty years. There she helped Sr. M. Irene Prugger with electrical and boiler maintenance. Eventually she took charge of all the maintenance, which included all the machinery, plumbing, and maintenance work.

Sr. M. Leocadia grew to love Mundelein very much, and it was difficult for her to leave, but the strenuous work and the responsibility became too much for her. She transferred to Kansas City in March, 1969 and stayed there until she moved to St. Benedict Health Care Center in 1984. While stationed in Kansas City, she packed large and small altar breads, work she enjoyed and which kept her mind active.

On February 8 she celebrated her 75th year as a Benedictine Sister of Perpetual Adoration in our St. Louis chapel. A week before she died, her sister, Sr. M. Luca, O.S.B., of Atchison, KS,  came for a few days’ visit with her. Her niece, Agnes, came for a visit at the same time, and Sister asked her for some candy, which Agnes was accustomed to bring to her. When asked what kind she wanted, Sr. M. Leocadia replied, “Chocolates.” Before Sr. M. Luca left, Sr. M. Leocadia said to her, “Give me a kiss.” This was her farewell to her family.

During the afternoon of July 21, 1997 Sr. M. Dawn, the health care administrator, noticed a change, and asked Sr. M. Cordula to pray with her. Sr. M. Cordula prayed the rosary. As she prayed, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us...” she paused, and then continued, “now and at the hour of our death.” Right at that moment, Sr. M. Leocadia went peacefully to God. Srs. Mary Jane and Ramona were called, and sisters filled the room and hallways to pray for our dear sister.

Sr. M. Leocadia was considered to be the matriarch of her large, extended family, and many relatives came for a wake and funeral both at St. Louis and Clyde. Her sisters, Sr. M. Luca and Sr. M. Pulcheria were Benedictines, in Atchison, KS. Another sister, Eleanor Schieber, lived in Stanberry, MO. Retired Abbot Anselm Coppersmith, OSB, of Conception Abbey was a first cousin. Her bothers Joseph, Raymond, Fred, Herman, and Vincent all preceded her in death.

Sister was laid to rest in the cemetery at Clyde on July 25, 1997.