Sister Regina Esser, OSB papers

Sister Regina Esser, OSB was born Catherine Esser in Canon City, Colorado on July 13th, 1882. Her parents and family were early supporters of the pioneering Benedictines in Canon City, and are recognized for their contribution to the community's founding in the city. Sister attended classes at the Academy before joining the community on July 15th, 1907, and making her perpetual vows on January 6th, 1912. She taught piano at St. Mary's School in Pueblo, as well as at St. Benedict's in Florence. However, the majority of her religious life was spent teaching at the Academy in Canon City. Included amongst her piano pupils was Sister Jean Marie Matern.

As one of the founding sisters of the Canon City community, she wrote an account of the early days in 1950 that was used as a source for Sister Genevieve Harrison's history, "Where There Was Need." Sister died at the age of 69 on February 20th, 1952 and is buried in Canon's Lakeside Cemetery.