Emma Bielman was born in Savannah, Missouri on Sept. 8, 1878, of German-born parents. She entered at Clyde on August 1, 1901 and was invested with the habit on April 21, 1902. She was professed as Sister M. Luca on April 21, 1903 and made her perpetual vows on January 18, 1913. Sister was one of the large group receiving the Consecration of Virgins at Clyde November 16, 1952, and celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1959.
An older sister, Sister M. Perpetua became a member of the Clyde community in 1889, and another sister, Sister M. Aemiliana, was a member of the Benedictine community at Atchison, Kansas.
Sister M. Luca spent her entire religious life at Clyde, with the exception of a few months at Kansas City in 1961. Sister was an accomplished pianist and had charge of the Music Department at the Academy for many years. After its close she helped in the Correspondence Department. Sister prayed much, especially for priests, and in particular for two students in Europe who benefited by her parents' contributions to the Caritas fund.
Failing health confined her to the infirmary for some years. More or less isolated, she found compensation in embroidery work, reading and listening to records of classical music. She died on Nov. 26, 1962. Sister was eighty-four years old.