Sister Benedicta Koller, OSB papers

Sister Benedicta Koller, OSB was born Elizabeth Cecilia on January 26th, 1906 in Pueblo, Colorado. As a child, she was a member of Saint Mary Parish in Pueblo, and attended the parish school. After graduating from the eighth grade, Sister travelled to Chicago to become an aspirant, but returned home after her father disapproved. She returned to Chicago to join the community at the age of 21, on December 31st, 1926. Sister made her first vows on January 12th, 1929, and her final profession on August 16th, 1932.

Sister graduated from Loretto Academy in Pueblo, Colorado before obtaining a Master's degree in history from Loyola University. She served primarily as a teacher in various parochial schools, including Saint Joseph School, Saint Mary School, Saint John School, Mother of God School, Queen of All Saints School, Saint Scholastica Academy in Canon City, and Saint Scholastica High School in Chicago. Sister taught at Saint Hilary School for over seventeen years, six of which she also served as principal. In addition to Saint Hilary, Sister also served as principal at Sacred Heart School in Tuscon, Arizona, and Saint Symphorosa in Illinois.

In community, Sister served on committees, was the community secretary, helped with the typing of the internal publication Our Community, presided in the classroom and library, served as a switchboard operator, and assisted in the kitchen peeling apples. She had a great devotion to both Edith Stein and Cardinal Merry del Val.

Sister died on January 15th, 1989 at the age of 82. She is buried in All Saints Cemetery.