Elizabeth Maerz was born at Keokuk, Iowa on Feb. 2, 1882, of German-born parents. She entered the convent at Clyde on Nov. 12, 1906 when not yet fifteen, and was invested on Apr. 13, 1907. She was professed as Sister M. Philomena on June 27, 1908 and made perpetual vows on August 28, 1915. She did not live to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, but was one of the group receiving Consecration of Virgins on Nov. 16, 1952.

Reared in a simple home on an Iowa farm, and with a limited schooling, Sister was used to hard physical labor. From her novitiate days she was given charge of some of the farm animals, mainly the hogs, which she tended faithfully for many years. She was always kind to the animals and they in turn recognized her and gave her their confidence. Another of Sister's tasks was to hitch up the horses whenever a trip was to be made. She was also kind to the workmen and to the students who did part-time work at the convent and they respected and loved her.

For many years Sister saw to it that the furnaces were kept burning brightly, of which there were five in different buildings. This involved real sacrifice, as it necessitated rising as early as 3:30 a.m. on winter mornings to supply the needed coal. When no longer able to do hard manual labor, Sister did little odd jobs, one of which was to clip canceled stamps from envelopes. This she referred to as "working for the government."

Sister had a great love for the Sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament, for perpetual adoration, and for our Blessed Mother. She seemed to be praying continually as she went about her duties. Her terminal illness caused her to be in a comatose state for almost a year. Early in the morning of her last day the priest who brought Holy Communion to the sick stopped in her doorway and gave her the blessing with the ciborium. Sister opened her eyes, smiled sweetly, and breathed her last. It was the feast of the Presentation, Feb. 2, 1953. Like the aged Simeon, she had sung her "nunc dimittis," having seen the Christ of the Lord. It was her 75th birthday.