Sister Relindis Jacob, OSB papers

Sister Relindis Jacob, OSB was born Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) in Baltimore, Maryland on October 5th, 1886 to German parents. She was raised a member of Baltimore's Fourteen Holy Martyrs Parish, and attended primary school there. Sister's mother died when was a teenager, and her father gave permission for her to enter the community. She joined the community at the age of 16, on November 21st, 1902. Sister made her first profession on September 4th, 1904, and her final vows on September 4th, 1907.

Sister served primarily as a teacher in a variety of parochial schools. She began her teaching career at St. Joseph School in Chicago before being missioned to the Immaculate Conception School in Kankakee, Illinois. Despite living in poverty there and frequently going hungry, Sister taught grades 1-6, piano, and chopped wood for the convent. Afterwards, she briefly taught at St. Mary's School in Pueblo, Colorado, before returning to Chicago to teach in St. George School for the next 38 years. At St. George, Sister served as a teacher, piano instructor, sacristan, and procurator for the community. Her final teaching assignment was at St. Joseph School, Chicago, where taught for another 22 years before retiring. Over the course of Sister's long teaching career, she taught many notable students, including Reverend George Luba, OSB, Abbot Boniface Seng, OSB, and Archbishop James Lyke, OFM.

Sister Relindis died on October 18th, 1974 at the age of 88. She is buried in All Saints Cemetery in Desplaines, Illinois.