A memorial Mass for Sister Mary George Hellmann, CPPS, was to be celebrated Dec. 14 at St. Joseph Chapel in O’Fallon. Sister Mary George died Nov. 17. She was 97.
Edna Hellmann was born in St. Louis on Aug. 16, 1927, the second of four children of Louis and Elizabeth Hellmann. She was baptized at Holy Trinity Parish in St. Louis. The family later moved to St. John the Baptist Gildehaus Parish in Villa Ridge, where she met the Precious Blood Sisters.
She was received into the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood’s novitiate on July 25, 1945, and professed first vows on Aug. 10, 1947. She was given the name Sister Mary George in honor of Msgr. George Hildner (“Alfalfa George,” as he was called), the much-beloved farm conservationist and pastor of her home parish in Gildehaus.
After serving in the art department for several years, Sister Mary George was asked to assist at the archbishop’s residence in St. Louis. That was the beginning of lifelong service as a homemaker, cook and baker. In addition to the archbishop’s residence, she served in Missouri at the Precious Blood Sisters motherhouse and infirmary kitchens in O’Fallon, St. Elizabeth Academy in St. Louis, St. Vincent de Paul in Dutzow, St. John the Baptist Gildehaus in Villa Ridge and St. Sabina in Florissant. She also served at St. Mary in Quincy, Illinois, and at St. Catherine in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.
Sister Mary George was innocent and unpretentious, precise and deliberate in all that she did. Though quiet and seemingly timid, she was never at a loss for words; a visit with her was seldom short. She was always eager to know about others, and she was faithful in sending cards and letters, often written on her portable typewriter.
Sister Mary George lived in fidelity to the words she chose for her memorial card, “This, then, is what I command you: love one another” (John 15:17). She was exceedingly grateful for the many ways that love was returned to her.
Sister Mary George was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Elizabeth Hellmann; her brothers, Gilbert, Virgil and Arnold; and by Virgil’s wife, Esther. She is survived by her nieces, Sandy (Rick) Mueller and Karen (Leonard) Hanneken.
Sister Mary George donated her body to science.
