Anna Gerschutz was born at New Bavaria, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1886. Her father came from Germany, her mother was a native of Ohio. Anna entered at Clyde in January 1916 and received the religious habit on the following August 20th. She was professed as Sister M. Mathilda on Aug. 20, 1917, and sealed her commitment by perpetual vows on Feb. 10, 1923.

Though serious-minded, Sister was always cheerful. She was sincere, conscientious and dependable in whatever work was assigned to her. Being an excellent seamstress, she helped with the sewing for a time, and when around 1920, when the light and power system at Clyde was changed over to electricity, she really came into her own. Mr. Earl Long of St. Louis who was in charge of the installation, carefully instructed Sister in every detail so that she might be capable of taking charge of all the electrical equipment at Clyde. She learned all the ins and outs of the trade quickly and thoroughly, and was always very exact about doing everything according to instructions received. Electricians from the Light & Power Company who came from time to time to install new equipment or do repair work were much impressed by her thorough knowledge of the trade. Sisters M. Lucy and Claudia were well trained by Sister to be her coworkers and to take charge when she was no longer able. She also worked in cooperation with the plumbers in regard to pumps, etc.

Sister M. Mathilda was a prayerful person, exact and conscientious in her religious duties and in her zeal for the service of perpetual adoration. She was faithful in obedience and the practice of poverty, and ever ready to help others.

When our Kansas City foundation was opened in 1945, Sister proved a great asset to the community in the installation of electrical equipment for the Altar Bread department and otherwise. She also spent a short time at the San Diego priory in 1954, in the hope of obtaining relief from an asthmatic condition. However, a heart attack necessitated her return to Clyde later the same year, and from that time on she was a patient at the Clyde infirmary. Though in a weakened condition, she still found ways of keeping usefully busy and did many acts of charity for the Sisters.

Early in the morning of March 12, 1958 Sister suffered a severe heart attack. As her condition did not improve, she was anointed in the afternoon and taken to the hospital so that oxygen might be administered. After the anointing Sister asked Mather M. Carmelita, Prioress General, to ask pardon of the Sisters for any offense she might have given any one of them in any way. Seemingly she had a premonition that she was to die soon.

At the Maryville hospital she was given excellent care, and the next morning appeared to be on the road to improvement. When the Sisters who were with her left for home about 12:30 she was encouraged by the possibility of returning home soon. However, an afternoon phone call from the hospital reported the shocking news that Sister has passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly about three o'clock, just after the nurse had given her a drink. It was the feast of her patronal saint, to whom she was greatly devoted. Sister was seventy-two years old, and in the forty-first of her religious profession.

Though her death was sudden, it was not unprepared for, as Sister had realized that it might come quickly and had lived in a spirit of resignation to the will of God. She also had the grace of making a retreat with the community just two weeks before her death, the theme of which was our Divine adoption as children of God.