Sister Mary Xavier Darmstadt
1891-1915
– by Catherine Podvin, OP

Sister Mary Xavier Darmstadt belonged to a family of musicians. Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, on December 9, 1891, she was baptized Cecilia. She was one of three children, all daughters, of Louise (Oehmann) and Gregory Darmstadt. Both parents were immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine.

Cecilia received her education in public schools. The family eventually settled in Maywood, Illinois, and the parents became members of St. James Parish. Cecilia had finished school and may have lived with relatives in Aurora for a time, since she also attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish there. Both parish schools were staffed by the Adrian Dominicans — St. James in 1909, and Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1910. Cecilia knew the Adrian Dominicans for only a short time, but she became very much attracted to their habit and lifestyle. When she entered the Adrian Congregation in 1910 at age nineteen, Cecilia was claimed by both parishes. Since her family lived in Maywood, it is probable that she actually entered from that parish.

On March 20, 1911, she received the habit and her religious name. She professed her first vows on August 13, 1912. Assigned to St. Mary in St. Clair, Michigan, she was much loved by the other sisters, who appreciated her friendliness, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness, as well as her wonderful musical gifts. Her frail health, however, was not clearly recognized.

In June 1915, on the last day of school, Sister Xavier had a dental appointment. Her superior, Sister Raphael Dunn, accompanied her. There was no transportation available when they left the dentist’s office, and they had to walk quite a distance. Sister Xavier became exhausted and unwell. Immediately upon reaching home, she had to be put to bed.

For graduation day, Sister Xavier had planned a play and had practiced it diligently with the children. On that day, everything went as she had intended and the students put on a beautiful performance in the city hall auditorium.
At the end of the play, the pastor announced to the audience that the sister
responsible for the program was very ill, perhaps dying of a heart problem. At once everyone knelt and offered the rosary for her.

As time passed, Sister Xavier did not improve but grew steadily weaker. Death came to her within a few days, on June 23, 1915, at the early age of twenty-three. The cause of her death was said to be heart failure. Her sister Margaret was with her during these last days, and Sister Joseta Gehring, a dear friend, cared for her day and night.

At that time, it was the custom to bury the sisters where they were serving at the time of death, unless the family requested otherwise. Sister Xavier died in St. Clair, and the pastor and people wanted her to be buried in the parish cemetery. Since her family did not object, burial was in St. Mary Cemetery in St. Clair.