“I am sure that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:3

Elisabeth Klinke was born on December 3, 1928, in Oberhannsdorf, County of Glatz, as the eldest child of Paul and Hedwig Klinke. Her sister Hedwig, two years younger, is our dear sister M. Hermtrud. After completing elementary school, young Elisabeth completed a two-year domestic work apprenticeship and worked in the same company until 1946.

Then, in March 1946, a major upheaval occurred with her expulsion from her homeland. She wrote: “My sister and I came to Delmenhorst in Oldenburg on a refugee transport. Unfortunately, I am unable to enclose a birth certificate and a school report, as I lost them during the escape.” What must she have experienced? She had already lost her mother by tuberculosis in 1942, and her father died in 1947, just one year after their escape. Thus, she had to cope with severe blows of fate at a young age.

At the beginning of 1947, our Sister M. Elisabetha went to Maria Veen, to what is now the Benediktushof. There, she worked as a domestic helper, empathetically supporting the needs of people with multiple disabilities and mental health issues. Starting in April 1949, she trained as a nurse at St. Elisabeth Hospital in Iserlohn. She completed her training with excellent grades and then happily applied her knowledge to the hospital. After careful consideration, she entered our religious community in February 1953, was invested with the habit on November 19, 1953, and made her perpetual profession in 1958.

After completing her religious training, Sister M. Elisabetha worked in various hospitals, including those in Lethmathe, Birkesdorf, Iserlohn, and in Salzkotten. Everywhere she is described as a capable operating room nurse who performed her duties skilfully, diligently, and meticulously to the complete satisfaction of patients and doctors. She is also described as cheerful, helpful, and deeply religious. One person writes: “Her genuine, unaffected cheerfulness betrays her rootedness in God.” She was often seen holding silent adoration in the chapel.

Nevertheless, her life was once again turned upside down. In the early 1970s, she seriously questioned her decision to enter the religious life. In 1973, she asked to be released from her vows. This was certainly not an easy decision for her, as she writes: “I did not make this decision at one moment, and it was by no means a rash act.” So, after completing all the formalities, she resumed her work as an operating room nurse in southern Germany. There she met the Thomas family, to whom she became a loving friend, advisor, and helper. No, that’s far too mild a description. The affectionate term “Grandma,” as Mrs. Thomas’s sons (Daniel and Simon) always called her, is much more appropriate. In addition to her sons, she also had children, so we had a fellow sister with great-grandchildren. This family connection meant a great deal to Sister M. Elisabetha; her face beamed every time she spoke about her family. It was very important to her to spend her holidays with them last autumn.

Despite her fulfilling work and her many contacts, a certain longing for religious life remained in her heart. Sister M. Elisabetha always kept in touch with her biological sister, our Sister M. Hermtrud, and visited her in Rome, where she was happy to help with her many skills. For a long time, she harboured the desire to rejoin the community, thinking it was no longer possible. But a conversation with our then Superior General got the ball rolling again. After another deep inner examination, she asked to be readmitted to our Congregation. What courage and what trust in God for both sides, for Sister M. Elisabetha and for the community. In 2002, she returned to Salzkotten and, with a joyful heart, made her final profession again in February 2006. She quickly settled into the sisterly community and naturally took on every task entrusted to her. Her commitment was tireless, whether here in the motherhouse, at the Liboriushaus in Paderborn, or again in our generalate in Rome.

Early in the morning, we would find her praying in our motherhouse church, her “Te Deum” in hand, meditating on the daily readings. She remained active well into old age, setting tables, distributing the sisters’ linens, serving at the porter’s office, and, not to mention, providing meals to the sisters suffering from COVID-19 as a matter of course. No journey was too far and no floor too high for her.

In recent months, her strength visibly declined; this was another enormous challenge for Sister M. Elisabetha. But she continued this path with deep trust in the guidance of a good and compassionate God. Thus, in November 2024, she moved into the nursing ward of our St. Clara retirement home and was able to finally place her life back in God’s hands. We are certain that she will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living now.

Written by Sr. M. Johanna Harke FCJM