Catherine Herzog was born in Russia November 10, 1887 of German parents who apparently had moved to Russia and were living there as poor peasants. The circumstances of her coming to America are not recorded, but she lived in Kansas at the time of her entrance on Dec. 7, 1905. She was invested on July 14, 1906 and at her profession on Sept. 27, 1907 received the name of Sister M. Lioba. Her perpetual vows were made on July 5, 1913.
Sister was a tall, strong-built person, with a pleasant disposition and a readiness to do hard work of every kind. She was stationed at our foundation in Chewelah, Washington from August 1918 till its discontinuance in 1928. Being gifted with a beautiful, strong voice, she loved to sing for the Divine services. She was also a fine cook and an excellent baker, in which capacity she generously served the community for many years, under difficult circumstances.
A brain tumor, for which Sister underwent surgery, caused partial paralysis and affected her speech, sight and hearing. Nevertheless, when she had sufficiently recovered, she painstakingly made her way to the adoration chapel for the Divine Office every day by feeling her way along the wall. For some twenty years she was a semi-invalid, and toward the end also contracted leukemia. Though she suffered much, she was always cheerful and undemanding. She often said, "I am never lonely; I can always pray."
Sister had a childlike devotion to our Blessed Mother and prayed that Jesus and Mary would come to take her home to heaven. She was greatly devoted to her brother, Rev. Leo Herzog, whose studies for the priesthood were defrayed by the convent. She died on May 19, 1954 at the age of sixty-seven years. Her brother was Celebrant of her funeral Mass. Sister was one of the large group receiving Consecration of Virgins in 1952.