Sister Marie Immaculata Hebestreit
1928-2007

For a good part of her religious life, Sister Marie Immaculata was known as "Sister Mac." In the 1970s, when many of the sisters took back their baptismal names, she considered returning to her name of Margaret Mary; but her identity as "Sister Mac" was so deeply entrenched in the minds of her family and of her Congregation friends, that she decided to retain her religious name.

Music played a large part in the lives of Sister Marie Immaculata's family. The Hebestreits researched the family back to the 1500s in Germany, and discovered that a number of their ancestors were concert pianists and violinists. This interest and talent in music continued in her immediate family. In his younger years, Robert Hebestreit, Sister's father, performed in vaudeville. He was in a quartet and played the piano "by ear." Her mother, Florence Lovelace, of French descent, also played the piano, but she had been given training. Sister Marie Immaculata possessed a beautiful voice and sang in choirs, but she did not play an instrument. Because of her singing ability, she was involved in directing school choirs, as well as conducting a classroom, during a great part of her religious life.

Both of Sister Marie Immaculata's parents were Michigan natives. The oldest of seven children, Robert Hebestreit was born on a farm near Detroit. He lived at home with his mother until he was thirty-one years of age, at which time he met and married Florence Lovelace from Cheboygan. Both of them were employed at the Studebaker Plant, and they made their home in Detroit. Shortly after his marriage, he obtained a job taking care of the boilers at Edison, and later became an Edison policeman, walking patrol for Edison.

Nine children were born to the couple, two of whom died at birth. The seven who survived were Jean, Robert, Patricia, Margaret Mary, Katherine, Joyce, and Charles. Margaret Mary, the middle child in the family and the future Sister Marie Immaculata, was born on March 20, 1928. Sister Marie Immaculata wrote in her autobiography that the family celebrated occasions such as birthdays together. They did not invite guests. The mother baked a special cake, they sang, and the father entertained them with songs in both English and German.

We weren't wealthy. We weren't poor either. We had what we needed. We didn't have extras, except at Easter or Christmas or Valentine's Day. My father always brought home something that was at each of our places at the table. That was special to him.

It is interesting to note that Robert Hebestreit had two aunts in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. Both were known as Sister Loretta. His aunt, Theresa Waldecker, entered the Congregation in 1900 and died in 1904. Within a short time her sister Anna entered, and took the same name. The Hebestreit children often saw the second Sister Loretta when she came on her home visits. In addition, Margaret frequently accompanied a friend who visited three Adrian Dominican relatives. Love and admiration for the sisters in white began to grow in Margaret's heart.

The Hesbestreits lived in Holy Redeemer Parish, and their children attended grade and high school there with the IHM (Immaculate Heart of Mary) Sisters. A desire to serve God in religious life was taking root in Margaret's mind; but, although she loved her teachers, she was not attracted to the IHMs. Her heart was with the Dominicans. "I wanted to be one of those sisters in white and teach orphans." When she voiced this desire, her parents did not stand in her way; but they assured her that she would always be welcome back home if things didn't work out.

On June 25, 1944, at the end of her junior year and at the age of sixteen, she became a postulant in Adrian and finished her high school years at St. Joseph Academy. She received the habit and her religious name on January 3, 1945, and professed her first vows on January 5, 1946. In her short autobiography, she wrote, "I wear my Grandmother Lovelace's wedding ring which is 105 years old, and my mother's wedding band, which is now 74 years old. Their symbolism is something I deeply treasure."

For the second semester of the 1945-46 school year she was kept in Adrian as a full-time student at Siena Heights College (now University). She was then sent to Illinois, where she spent sixteen years with primary children. Although she never had the experience of teaching orphans, she loved teaching the small children. The first six years were at St. Rita in Chicago. She wrote of an experience with the Sister who was the Supervisor of Schools for the Adrian Dominicans, and who was living at St. Rita at that time. "Whenever it rained or snowed, she wouldn't go out. She would come to my classroom and take small groups. She was really training me." Following her years at St. Rita, Sister Marie Immaculata spent ten years at St. Edward in Rockford. During these years she attained a reputation as an excellent primary teacher.

She had been having some health problems, and in summer 1962 lung weakness was diagnosed. As a result she was sent to the Southwest, where she remained for the balance of her ministry years. During these years, she and her younger sister Patricia, who was married and living in California, became very close.

After three years at St. Peter in Henderson, Nevada, Sister Marie Immaculata was transferred to Queen of Heaven in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for two years. In 1967 she returned to Nevada to teach at Our Lady of Las Vegas in Las Vegas for a year. Medical care was again necessary during the summer of 1968. The next year was divided — the first semester at St. Joseph in Winslow, Arizona; and the second semester at St. Raphael in Los Angeles, California. She then moved to St. Mary in Delano, California, for two years.

In 1971, Sister Margaret Richard Pillon, whose brother had married Sister Marie Immaculata's sister Patricia, invited Sister Marie Immaculata to teach at Loretto in Douglas, Arizona, where she remained for sixteen years. In her autobiography, Sister Marie Immaculata wrote:

I will always be grateful to Sister Margaret Richard for her invitation to come to Douglas, Arizona. She said, "You would be under the public schools, you can live with us, and you can teach an hour, two hours, or all day. Whatever you can do." I took her up on it fast. I taught English to the Spanish children, and then taught our children who had a hard time with reading. The last two years I was there by myself, and Sister Eileen Hussey [the Chapter Prioress] was concerned about that. The convent was on the fifth floor above the school. My only connection was by phone. Eventually, Sister Eileen decided I needed to move from there, and she suggested that I go to school. I was sixty years old by then.

I have a great love for Douglas. I had at least five students who went on and took top honors in grade eight. Several of them are teachers now.

It was during these years that the Hebestreits lost both parents, their father in 1974 and their mother in 1976.

In 1987, Sister Marie Immaculata took Sister Eileen's advice and registered at the University of Arizona in Tucson. After three years as a full-time student, in 1990 she received a Master's Degree in Reading; but because of illness and back surgery, she was unable to use the degree to its fullness. She left the classroom and began to tutor children who needed help in reading and math. She also did what she described as an "interesting survey," questioning the Mexican and Mexican-American children about their activities, their eating habits, and their religious habits. She did not give the results of their activities or eating habits, but she wrote that she found their religious habits rather strange. "If the father is a strong Catholic, the children went to church. If the mother was a strong Catholic, if they went it was fine, if they did not go it was fine."

In 1992 she moved to Tempe, Arizona, where she lived for seven years, volunteering her services wherever needed. In 1999 she returned to Adrian and became a resident at the Dominican Life Center/Maria. In her autobiography she wrote, "I fought coming in here for four years — really hard." She was used to taking care of herself, and was unwilling to lose that independence. She was, however, not forced. The decision to go to Adrian was her own. God gave her the privilege of dying during the Christmas season, 2007, on December 26. Her wake-remembrance ceremony took place on December 28, and she was buried on December 29.

The wake-remembrance ceremony was held in St. Catherine Chapel Sister Joan Sustersic, Prioress of Holy Rosary Mission Chapter, opened the ceremony. She welcomed the members of Sister's family who were present: her brother Robert and his wife, her sisters Jean, Joyce, and Katherine, and extended sympathy. She also welcomed the many Dominican friends who had assembled.

Sister Joan summarized Sister Marie Immaculata's life and ministry, and spoke of her last years.

She enjoyed prayer with the sisters, and especially praying her rosary. If you ever went into her bedroom, you noticed that she had LOTS of rosaries on her bed. They were all plastic, but ones she prayed especially for special people. She was very generous and thoughtful. She shared her video tapes with all the sisters. She had a marvelous sense of humor and loved to laugh. Indeed, she had a twinkle in her eye and enjoyed her Amigo while she was able. Who'll forget the bears that rode in her basket — and their monthly sweaters?

She enjoyed the computer until a couple of years ago, when her health declined steadily. Not only did she have lung problems and the problem with her trach [windpipe], but her skin would break down and it took much care to help it heal… She loved the gumball machines in her room — sometimes for gumballs and sometimes for jaw-breakers, but always things that she shared. For a long time, she cleaned and took care of her own trach tube. How difficult it must have been not to use her beautiful voice. Other physical problems continued to bother her. Eventually, it was decided that nothing further could be done. Even so, as she made the decision that she would pursue no further treatment but be kept comfortable, she and her sisters met and talked about what she wanted for her wake, funeral, etc… Eventually, it was decided to call in Hospice of Lenawee, a plan to which she agreed. They helped to keep her comfortable until the end.

Sister Margaret Richard Pillon shared also.

I have known Sister Mac since I was twelve years old, when my brother Dick married her sister Pat. We have seven nieces and nephews in common and attended many family gatherings together. I lived with her for twenty-five years on and off in Delano, California; Douglas, Arizona; Henderson, Nevada; and Tempe, Arizona.

She loved her community and family very much. Because of poor health, she was not always able to participate in many community activities. But she was always there in prayer and spirit. She also loved her jewelry, videos, and stuffed animals.

Sister Mary O'Neill spoke of her experiences when she was Provincial in the West.

About thirty-four years ago, I was driving to Douglas, Arizona. I was anxious. I had never been to Douglas, to the Mexican border, nor had I visited the sisters who labored there. I drove to the house and knocked at the door. The welcome I experienced from her and the rest of the sisters was wonderful. I began to feel at home in Douglas. In the next three years, I went back three times.

Last March I came in to Maria, quite sick. I don't remember a lot about that. I do remember very vividly a little mite in an Amigo coming up to me and greeting me. After thirty-four years, she remembered me and welcomed me to Maria in the same way that she welcomed me to Douglas so many years ago. When I think of her, I think of hospitality.

Sister Marie Immaculata's niece, Claudine Kelly Johnson, spoke through tears: "I loved her, and I know she loved me. She gave me her stuffed bears because she knew that I loved bears. And she gave me a lot of jewelry."

Sister Marie Immaculata's sister Katherine (Katy) wrote in poetry form. In part, she wrote:

I thought I lost a sister when Mac entered the Dominicans so many years ago.
Instead, I have gained all the wonderful people Mac loves and knows.
Mac was one of a kind.
She had a surprise visit when she was so ill.
It was her superior who said, "When I am down I just visit Mac and she lifts me up that difficult hill." …
I didn't lose a sister in the end. I gained a great soul and a great friend.
Mac, you sure were one of a kind. In God's plan you'll surely shine…
I wish to thank the Dominican Order for giving my sister Mac
The life she dreamed of when she entered…

Sister Marie Immaculata's funeral took place on December 29, with Father Roland Calvert, OSFS, as presider and homilist. Father said in part:

One of the qualities that stands out about Sister Mac was her optimism and, added to that, was a deep joy. Even when she dealt with serious health problems, she would still manage to smile and exhibit what you might call a queenly presence.

Father concluded his homily by saying, "It is our faith that Sister Mac has passed through the crucible of physical death to a new and glorious life… We rejoice with her this day." All those who knew and loved her would agree.