Sister Hildegarde Geraets, OSB, 78, a Benedictine sister of Saint Bede Monastery, died at Sacred Heart Hospital on Thursday, March 8, 2007 following a massive stroke. Born in Elmwood, Wisconsin to parents Theodore and Hildegarde, Sister Hildegarde was the eleventh in a family of eight brothers and five sisters. \r\nFollowing her graduation from the Elmwood High School, Sister Hildegarde pursued a teaching degree and then taught three years in the public school system. She entered Saint Bede Monastery (Priory) in 1954, made her first profession in 1956 and this past year, 2006, celebrated her Golden Jubilee.\r\nAlways eager to learn, Sister Hildegarde held a BS degree in Education from UW-River Falls, an MA in Developmental and Remedial Reading from St. Thomas University, St. Paul. Library Science studies at UW-Oshkosh and further studies in administration and finance at Loras College, Dubuque, IA and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.\r\nA very talented and versatile person, Sister Hildegarde's career consisted of serving the La Crosse Diocese as teacher/principal in several schools: St. Patrick's in Eau Claire, St. Patrick's in Onalaska, St. Thomas More in La Crosse, and St. Mary's in Richland Center. From 1980-1984, she assumed the position of Food Service Manager at Saint Bede's. Later, her interests and capabilities led to her positions as Community Treasurer, Director of Saint Bede Center, Librarian, and House Coordinator, as well as a regular contributor of recent book reviews published in Tidings, the Saint Bede Monastery newsletter.\r\nAlong with her many duties, Sister Hildegarde enjoyed music, literature, sewing, baking, and gardening. Nurturing plants and planning her flower gardens gave her a special spring thrust.\r\nPreceding her in death were her parents; a sister, Sister Annette Geraets. OSB from Saint Bede's; a brother, Father Chrysostom Geraets, O.P., who served in Bolivia; brothers, Lawrence (Elmwood), Gary (Chico, California); and sisters, Johanna Hellmueller (Durand), Marie Zittel (Menomonie), and Lillian Bicknell (Michigan).\r\nSister Hildegarde is survived by Abbot David Geraets, OSB, San Louis Obispo, California; brothers, Henry and Joseph (Elmwood), Francis (Florida), Theodore (Alabama); and sister, Gertrude Geraets (Indiana); many nieces and nephews, and her Benedictine community.\r\nA Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Bede Monastery at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 12, 2007. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass on Monday. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Eau Claire. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home is assisting Saint Bede community with arrangements.

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