Sister Modesta Gmeiner, OSB papers

Sister Modesta Gmeiner, OSB was born Marie on Spetember 27th, 1887 in Denver, Colorado. She entered the community on August 29th, 1903. She spent her novitiate and early years as a sister in Chicago, before making her perpetual vows in 1908 in Canon City, Colorado. Her sister Praxedes (Catherine) Gmeiner followed her into the community.

Sister graduated from Mount Saint Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She spent some time at the St. Bede Monastery in Peru, Illinois, serving in laundry and kitchen service. In 1909, she was missioned to Colorado, teaching for over 37 years at various schools across the state in Pueblo, Delta, Salida, and Canon City. She was a superior at both St. Michael's in Delta and at St. Leander's, and taught at several summer vacation schools. In Illinois, she taught at St. Symphorosa, the Mother of God School, and at St. John's. At Symphorosa, she was known for collecting leftover bread crusts from students' lunches to feed the birds, which would flock around her on her way to church every morning.

In community, Sister was given to making large side rosaries, which were worn until the early 1930's.

Sister Modesta died on December 31st, 1962 at the age of 76. She is buried in the All Saints Cemetery in Illinois.