Sister Maria Sighilde

Sister Maria Sighilde                 ND  4278                 PDF Download
Maria Simon

Maria Regina Province, Coesfeld, Germany

Date and Place of Birth:              May 19, 1927       Büren, County Büren
Date and Place of Profession:   April 15, 1952      Ahlen
Date and Place of Death:            July 20, 2016       Coesfeld, Kloster Annenthal
Date and Place of Funeral:        July 26, 2016       Coesfeld, Convent Cemetery

„You are my way, my strength, the upwelling spring of my life. You, my creator.” (Hymn from the Liturgy of the Hours) 

Sister Maria Sighilde, Maria Simon, was the fourth of her parents’ six children. She was born in Büren where she also spent her childhood and her schooldays. After graduating from High School, she asked for admission to the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Mülhausen/Lower Rhine.

After her religious formation, she studied at different universities to become a teacher for agricultural housekeeping. In 1957, she successfully passed her Second State Examination; in 1967, she equally passed the State Examination for the teaching profession at vocational schools (today’s vocational college).

Sr. M. Sighilde taught at different schools in our community. After ongoing studies in basic chemistry, business and social sciences and a subsequent internship in Aachen, she was principal of the Notre Dame School in Coesfeld from 1970 through 1993. She held this role with great commitment. She met the challenges of this responsible office, she worked with determination and persistence to successfully lead the school into the future during a time of frequent reforms. When it was necessary, she had the courage to make “lonely” decisions.

She had an open ear for everyone who came to her in difficult situations and she tried to help whenever it was possible. She was highly appreciated and respected. For many years, she was committed to supporting Father Douteil’s missionary work in Brazil with her prayers and in other ways. Staff and students supported her commitment with many activities.

After retiring from teaching, Sister Maria Sighilde ministered for eleven years in the Studentin-nenburse, our hostel for university students in Münster, where she served as local superior and as director of the hostel. From 2004 – 2011, she lived in the local community in Büren where she helped in the school and in the house.

Finally, she spent the last years of her life in Kloster Annenthal. This phase was marked by illness and at the same time by her will to preserve as much autonomy and independence as possible. She participated in community life, was interested in the developments in the Church and in society and was simply present.

In the early hours of July 20, 2016, she gave her life back into the hands of her creator, who had been her way, her strength and her upwelling spring.