Sister Maria Edilburg ND 4770 Edilburg+E
Paula Elisabeth HEUER
Maria Regina Province, Coesfeld, Germany
Date and Place of Birth: 28 February 1928 Lengerich
Date and Place of Profession: 30 August 1955 Coesfeld
Date and Place of Death: 26 November 2023 Coesfeld, Kloster Annenthal
Date and Place of Funeral: 30 November 2023 Coesfeld, Convent Cemetery
Everything for Jesus through Mary
Sister M. Edilburg, Paula Heuer, was born in Lengerich on 28 February 1928. She was the daughter of Georg Heuer and his wife Pauline, née Kreye-Többen, who were farmers. She spent a carefree childhood with her four siblings. From 1934 to 1942, she attended the basic elementary and secondary school in her hometown. After leaving school, she stayed in her parental home and helped with the housework and on the farm. Then she came to our sisters in Münster to learn cooking and housekeeping. During this time, she made the decision to become a religious sister. She wrote, “I would like to be accepted into the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame. My parents agree with my plan, and I would be glad if my wish could soon become reality”.
So, Paula started her novitiate on 1 September 1953 in Coesfeld and she received the name Sister Maria Edilburg. Between her first profession on 30 August 1955 in Coesfeld and her final profession on 2 July 1960 in Rome, Sr. M. Edilburg ministered in different houses of our province. So, she came to Dingden and in 1963 to Berlin. Here, she was entrusted with the position of caretaker in our Liebfrauenschule. Berlin became her second home. Sr. M. Edilburg simply knew “everything“, she knew the school with all its nooks and crannies like no other sister. She enjoyed the unconditional confidence of the principal and the staff, and she took great care of the cleaning staff, especially of a Turkish family for whom she felt responsible. As a special Thank you she was invited to fly with them to their home country and so, she got to know the beauty of Turkey. She simply had an eye for everyone.
Leaving Berlin in 2011 was not easy for her. But true to her motto “Everything for Jesus through Mary“ she managed this hurdle and settled in well in Kloster Annenthal, Coesfeld. With her strength diminishing, she soon moved to the nursing ward. Here her true greatness was revealed once again. Her quiet friendliness, her hearty laughter, and her sparkling eyes were a special gift for us. The word “Berlin“ had not lost its magic power until few days before her death. In the early morning of Christ the King Sunday she passed away as quietly as she had lived.
by Dreamhost