Sister Maria Friedburga ND 5103 PDF Download
Josepha VÖLKER
Maria Regina Province, Coesfeld, Germany
Date and Place of Birth: January 21, 1930 Lage
Date and Place of Profession: August 31, 1957 Coesfeld
Date and Place of Death: April 29, 2025 Coesfeld, Kloster Annenthal
Date and Place of Funeral: May 07, 2025 Coesfeld, Convent Cemetery
“We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him“. Rom, 8:28
Sister Maria Friedburga was the daughter of August Völker and Wilhelmine, née Book. She grew up in a large family with ten siblings. From the age of 6 to 14, Josepha attended the Catholic elementary primary and secondary school in her home village. She wrote in her curriculum vitae: “After leaving school, I helped my mother with all the household chores and with looking after my younger siblings.”
Josepha came to know our sisters at the Liebfrauenhaus in Vechta. There she became familiar with all areas of housekeeping from 1949 to 1950. “Josepha was hard-working, willing and ambitious,” was the testimony of the local superior at the time. Josepha returned to her parents’ household for another four years and used the skills she had learned at the Liebfrauenhaus.
On October 7, 1954, she entered our Congregation in Coesfeld and at her investment received her religious name Maria Friedburga, celebrating her name day on the feast of St. Joseph. Her patron saint remained a faithful companion throughout her life.
After her first profession, Sister Maria Friedburga was assigned to domestic work in various convents. Her final profession took place on February 24, 1963, in our Generalate in Rome.
Sister M. Friedburga was very solicitous, she not only had her task in mind, but also everything that was happening in the house. Her silent wish was to be allowed to do more. So, in 1972, she moved to Berlin to begin training as a geriatric nurse at the Malteser Hospital, which she successfully completed a year later.
From 1974 to 1989, Sister Maria Friedburga worked at the Katharinenstift in Coesfeld. A co-sister remembered that on Sunday afternoons she would go over to the Katharinenstift with her knitting so that she could be with the residents instead of sitting alone in her room. That way, they could have a conversation, or she would just listen. Those were sociable hours for everyone.
In 1989, Sr. M. Friedburga moved to Kloster Annenthal to work in the care center for our sisters. At that time, there were only a few lay employees in the house. Sr. Maria Friedburga was committed to her co-sisters wholeheartedly. She was given a ceremonious farewell when she retired from her active work in 1996, but she continued to take on small tasks until 2003.
Sr. M. Friedburga maintained good contact with her relatives over the years. She found much joy in visits and orchids. She had a knack for taking care of them. Sister Maria Friedburga, who usually performed her duties without many words, continued to help in the refectory for some time.
When her strength waned, she moved to the Salus section, now as a sister in need of care. She enjoyed praying and, when her health permitted, took part in the activities offered by the social service. She was happy when she was taken outside.
Sister Maria Friedburga was only bedridden for a short time. She received competent care from the nursing staff and every support from her co-sisters.
A long religious life has come to an end and “we know that God works all things for good in those who love him.”
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