Mathilda Menges was born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 8, 1888. She joined our community at Clyde on May 26, 1912, and was invested with the holy habit on January 18, 1913. On January 24, 1914 she made profession of temporary vows as Sister M. Loretta.

Sister was a convert. A certified teacher, she taught at the Clyde school even when a novice. She was especially gifted in dealing with small children and they readily cooperated with her. Sister was a small person, with a cheerful, humble disposition, loving and loved by all, generous and self sacrificing. She took with good grace the many exterior penances and humiliations customary at that time, and was an example for the whole novitiate.

On August 1, 1915, just a year and a half after her profession, Sister suffered a sunstroke when, in her generosity, she remained at the garden work longer than customary. She was taken to the hospital where she died on August 15, 1915, the feast of the Assumption. The community felt keenly the loss of this promising young member, whom God called to Himself in the second year of her religious life at the age of twenty-seven.