Sister Mary Hildegarde Heiss

Sister Mary Hildegarde Heiss, 100, of Independence, MO, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2004. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 am Saturday February 21 at Our Lady Of The Angels Chapel, Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist. Visitation will be 7-9 pm Friday with a Prayer service at 7:00 pm. Burial in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Nevada, MO. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sisters of St. Francis. Sister Mary Hildegarde was born March 6, 1903 in Wurtemberg, Germany to Martin and Maria (Marquart) Heiss. She was a member of The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist. Sister Mary Hildegarde came to the United States along with 6 other young women to be missionaries to the people of Missouri. She taught from 1929-1976 at Nevada, Higginsville, Lexington, Tipton, Germantown, Martinsville, Montrose, Warrensburg, St. Francis Academy, Cottey College and Donnelly College. In 1980 she came out of retirement to teach German and Spanish at St. John LaLande. Sister was a member of the Legion of Mary serving as secretary for many years. In her second retirement she cared for several elderly sisters who drew her motherly instincts to the front. Though never at a loss for words, her example taught us how to care for the suffering Jesus and to be the suffering Jesus. She constantly prayed for the dying, the fallen away and priests. Though her childhood desire was to be a teacher, living the motto "All For Jesus� she may well have accomplished more - to be a saint. Sister was preceded in death by all 9 of her siblings including Fr. Franz Heiss, Fr. Joseph Heiss, Sister Mary Theresa Heiss, OSF, and Sister Laurencia Heiss, OP.