Stephanie, the second youngest of the Eichenhofer family and the 6th of the seven sisters to join our Congregation, was born in Baden, Germany on April 19, 1897. Like her sisters, she imbibed a love for the Eucharist from her mother, and in 1923, at the age of twenty-six, crossed the ocean in the wake of her five older sisters who had preceded her, to join our Clyde community on October 21st. With her came Agatha, the youngest in the family (our future Sr. Mary Eusebia) who entered with her, and their brother Severin who served the convent as a farm laborer until his death in Feb. 1957.

Stephanie was invested August 30, 1924, made her first vows February 13, 1926, receiving the name of Sabina, and was assigned outdoor work, particularly in the dairy barn and the orchard. After her perpetual vows on February 14, 1931, Sister was transferred to our Mundelein priory, where she remained thirty- five years, her principal work there being in the altar bread department and the care of the refectory. 

In 1968, in failing health, Sister was reunited with her sisters, Srs.M. Willibalda and Eusebia in the Clyde infirmary, where the three of them were closely united and a mutual support to each other. She was happy to help in the craft room and with the sorting of altar breads, till that work was discontinued there. Though very frail, Sr. M. Sabina was a devoted adorer, faithful and punctual at her assigned work, and cheerful in her quiet, unassuming way.

Alternating between serious sick spells, it seemed for a time as if she and Sr. M. Eusebia were vying for the privilege of going to heaven. However, she told Sr. M. Eusebia: "You can't die until I go; I am older than you." 

It seems this was in keeping with God's plan. On July 12, 1973, not too long after Sr. M. Eusebia had again rallied from a serious sick spell, Sr. M. Sabina was taken to the doctor in Maryville because of swelling, her feet and ankles and a "miserable feeling" in general. At her own request she was returned to the convent infirmary for treatment and medication, rather than to be hospitalized. However, her condition worsened and necessitated her being taken back to the hospital on the 16th, where she quietly slipped into eternity the morning of the 18th, after suffering heart failure. 

A heavy downpour of rain made it necessary to postpone her actual burial after the funeral Mass on Friday, the 20th, so the prayers were finished in the chapel and only the superiors and a few others accompanied her remains to Mt. Calvary later. Sister was seventy-six years old and was preceded in death by four of her sisters, as well as her three brothers, Father Thomas, Father Hugo and Severin.