Born: Anna Maria Theresia Hartmann
Little is known concerning Sister Otillia. Her life was one of seclusion, humility, recollection and obscurity, for during the twenty-six years of her religious life, she devoted herself tirelessly to the service of the chaplain of St. Catherine's Hospital and to visiting priests.
Sister Otillia, known in the world as Theresa Hartmann, was born in Prussia on January 31, 1849. She entered our Congregation on June 3, 1872: received the holy habit , November 24, 1872, and made her holy vows the following year on November 29, 1873.
Immediately after profession she was assigned to St. Catherine's Hospital where she spent her life ministering the chaplain. Her health failed and a painful operation was resorted to in order to restore her strength. Personally, she had little faith in the success of operations and when she was placed under the knife of the surgeon, no relief was granted to her. In fact, she never recovered and on the beautiful feast of Our Lady's Assumption, August 15, 1897, she was released from her severe suffering. We hope that this hidden religious is now praising God and begging Him to assist us in the struggle to work out our own salvation and help others along the road to heaven. May she pray God
"For mercy when we sin
For cleansing and release
For eternal safety, and within For everlasting peace."
FATHER - Frank Hartmann
MOTHER - Katherina Haverkamp
Copied from the Necrology of the Dominican Sisters, Amityville, NY
Sister Mary Otillia is buried in the Sisters' cemetery at the Motherhouse.
Sister Bonifacia was born on February 13, 1870. She came from Elmont, New York and entered the convent on December 8, 1887. On August 21, 1888 she received the holy habit and on November 21, 1889, she pronounced her temporary vows. After profession she was sent to St. Catherine’s Hospital. For some time she also cared for contagious disease patients in the City Hospital, Flatbush, New York. Later on she returned to St. Catherine’s. For a number of years, she remained at the Motherhouse (Graham Avenue, Brooklyn) where she developed her artistic talent. Later on she was transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital, now known as Mary Immaculate, (Jamaica) to care for the sick. While she was stationed there, she painted the pictures for the Way of the Cross for the new chapel. (These have been lost.) She became ill and suffered from an attack of pneumonia. When her condition grew worse, she was sent to St. Joseph’s (our convent in Monticello, New York) by order of the physician. For a time she seemed to rally, but her cure was not permanent. For this reason she was sent back and forth from St. Joseph’s several times. During her stay there, she also exercised her artistic talent. The beautiful picture of St. Catherine’s Mystical Espousal with our Lord is a memorial of her skill. She began second picture of St. Dominic’s vision of his brethren under the mantle of our Blessed Mother, but was not able to complete it.
(Please view her paintings in the Events: Dominican Sisters of Amityville.)
Sister Raymund Stattel, O.P. was one of the first postulants to enter Holy Cross congregation from St. Boniface Parish, Elmont. The Sisters began the foundation there in 1886 and Mary had the privilege of being amongst the first to attend their classes. She was too old to be a regular daily attendant, so she was one of the special pupils who came to school occasionally. In her youth she was a typical young country girl - robust in health, accustomed to outdoor life, inured to hard labor in the home and on the farm. The charitable custom of the Catholic farmers in the parish to supply the Sisters with an abundance of fresh vegetables and other food was beneficently carried out by Mary’s father. Mary was overjoyed when she accompanied her father to the convent to deliver the garden produce and witness the gratitude with which the poverty stricken Sisters received the donation. Mary applied for admission as a postulant and entered the Novitiate at Amityville, on the beautiful feast of Our Lady Immaculate, 1890. Her investiture took place November 9, 1891 and made her holy vows November 25, 1892.
After profession, she was assigned to teach in Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque Convent, St. Boniface, Willoughby Street, Brooklyn. Those who are familiar with the physical constitution of human nature know how difficult it is to confine in a few rooms, a person who has spent practically the greater part of the day and of the year in the great out doors. They can appreciate that Sister Raymund had to suffer. She was diligent in preparing for class, conscientious in instructing the young children entrusted to her kind care, obedient to her obligations as a religious. But though the will was resigned and the spirit willing, the body rebelled and pined for the fresh air, the woodland scent and the seasonal changes that clothe meadow and plain in ever changing beauty. Frequently she would say: “I would be content if I could see even one chicken!” Little by little, Sister Raymund’s physical strength dwindled and on April 2, 1896, she died of the victim of hasty consumption. Surely God led this pious soul to the starred meadow of the celestial paradise where her beauty starved soul could revel forever in the delights of true gardens of heaven, in company with her Devine Spouse, His beautiful mother and all the Saints. May she rest in peace and pray for us: Amen.
Birth: June 16, 1915
Birthplace: Mineola, New York
Parents & Birthplace: Philip. NY, Theresa Barbara, NY
Admitted as Candidate: August 30, 1933
Admitted as Novitiate: August 23, 1934
Profession of Vows: August 26, 1935
Ministry: Educator
Parish at Entrance: Corpus Christi, Mineola
Education: BA St. John’s University, Social Studies
Death: September 24, 2010
Missions
Good Shepherd, Brooklyn 1935-1946
St. Josephs, Sullivan County 1946-1957
All Saints High School, Brooklyn 1957-1970
Bishop McDonnell H.S., Brooklyn 1970-1972
St. Patrick Elementary, Huntington 1972-1995
St. Patrick, retired 1995-1999
Queen of Rosary Motherhouse
Rosary Hall 1999-2005
Carlin Hall 2005-2010