Sister Gertrude Holtz, OSB papers

Hilda Holtz, daughter of Leonard and Helena Strittmatter Holtz, was born in Hasting Pennsylvania on February 25th, 1897. Hilda joined the OSB community on May 24th, 1926, she made her perpetual vows in 1931, receiving the name Gertrude at investiture. Having received a degree in music from De Paul university, in addition to studying at the Bush Conservatory of Chicago, Sister Gertrude gave piano lessons for the better part of her religious life. She taught at St. Scholastica Academy for twenty-three years, St. Hillary school for three years, and Queen of All Saints school for twenty-eight years. For many years she also held piano lessons on the weekends at Mother of God in Waukegan, as well as St. Joseph and St. John’s in Chicago. Sr. Gertrude celebrated her golden jubilee in 1977. She died on July 28th, 1985 at the age of 88 after a long illness in the St. Joseph’s court infirmary.