February 16, 1891 - June 21, 1987
Sister Gratiana is the great aunt of my generation; the sister of our grandfather Louis Hirt, and daughter of Mary Ann and Andrew Hirt. Following is an extended obituary written by her biological sister, Sister M. Adele Hirt, with links to informational websites, pictures and additional information added by Jim Oehler.
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Sister M. Gratiana Hirt, who was 79 years in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, passed peacefully into eternity at St Clare Convent, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 4:30 pm on Sunday, June 21, 1987 at the age of 96. She had been in declining health for some time, especially after her birthday in February when she became gradually weaker.
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| St Clare Convent, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Date unknown. Picture found on Pinterest. Convent was torn down in 2015. |
In the latter part of February, Sister M. Adele, her sister, traveled from Flora Vista, New Mexico to spend a week with Sister. At that time she was able to converse with Sister M Adele and seemed pleased to have her visit for she wanted someone there all the time.
Sister M Gratiana was born in Medford, Wisconsin on February 16, 1891. She was the fifth in the family of 14 children of Andrew Hirt II, and Mary Anne Brost. She grew up on a farm and attended the district elementary school.
Sister is survived by four sisters: Sister M. Adele, Helen Beck (Santa Rose, California), Martha Zielke (Glenford, Ohio), Agatha Lawrence (Seattle, Washington), and two brothers: Louis Hirt (Medford, Wisconsin), and Anthony Hirt (Eden Prairie, Minnesota).
Sister M Gratiana's life story was one of struggle against illness. At the age of 15 she suffered acute appendicitis and was taken to St Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. It was there she became acquainted with the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother with whom she spent 79 years of service.
In 1908 she entered the Community of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. After 16 months as a postulant [a candidate for a religious order], she received the habit on May 1, 1910 and received the name Mary Gratiana of St Mary Magdalena.
Early in her novitiate [a novice, especially in a religious order] she contracted tuberculosis and was sent to St Mary's Hospital, Roswell, New Mexico. Being at the point of death she professed her first vows privately. Later on, in 1913, have recovered, she received special dispensation from Pope St Pius X to profess her first vows publicly even though she had not completed her novitiate. Sister professed her final vows on August 15, 1919 in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
In 1914 her first assignment was St Francis Hospital, Wichita, Kansas, where she spent two years as a pharmaceutical student and received the certificate as Registered Pharmacist in the state of Kansas on February 18, 1916. Sister continued her studies and passed the state boards and became a Registered Nurse on May 27, 1920. During her 13 year stay at St Francis, Sister M Gratiana served in various occupations. Besides her work in the pharmacy she served for a short time as instructor and director of nurses.
Sister left St Frances in 1927 due to a recurrence of tuberculosis at which time she returned to St Mary's, Roswell, for a treatment.
After a two year recovery period, Sister went to St John's, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1929, where she pursued courses in medical technology at Monte Cassino Junior College and the University of Tulsa. Sister became a certified Laboratory Technician on January 10, 1931. For a while Sister worked as a Laboratory Technician and was in charge of Medical Records. In 1933 she attended Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Upon her return to Tulsa she took the post of Director of the School of Nursing.
Sister's achievements at St John's include helping to design the nurses' residence, a home and a program for the young women in training. Library Science was one of Sister's favorite subjects so she was instrumental in making the library at the nurses' resident "a mine" of reference in all fields of nursing. A woman ahead of her time, Sister advocated an 8 hour a day for nurses. Having a special aptitude for landscaping and gardening she helped beautify the grounds with trees, shrubs and flowers.
[According to this history of St John's she, "set the standards and brought
the school to an acknowledged level of excellence" as the Director of Nursing.]
Sister's apostalate as director was again interrupted by a short period of illness from 1936 to 1937 which she spent at St Mary's, Roswell. In 1937 Sister returned to St John's and in all completed 25 years as Director of Nurses. Approximately 800 nurses received their training during the tenure of Sister M Gratiana. According to an article in the Southwest Courier, of July 26, 1959, Sister stated: "The 25 years as Director of the School of Nursing have been years of joy, of hope, of sadness, but replete with satisfaction in having the opportunity for helping those who needed help, guidance and counseling encouragement and sometimes material aid. The reward has been more than ample in the loyalty and devotion which the gathering years have multiplied as the number of graduates have increased." Her nurses returned from time to time to Our Lady of Sorrows, Franciscan Villa and St Clare to visit with Sister and reminisce about the past They did not cease to compliment and than Sister for her guidance, direction, and fairness. During her tenure at St John's Sister M Gratiana celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1938.
In 1958 Sister left St John's for a less strenuous apostolate at St Anne's Hospital, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, where she was assigned to the pharmacy and record library. In 1959 Sister celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a Sister of the Sorrowful Mother and in 1968 she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee.
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| 1950 photo of Sister M. Gratiana. |
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| July 1958 article about Sister Gratiana giving up her post of Director of Nursing at St John's in Oklahoma and moving to St Anne's in New Mexico. |
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| Another July 1958 article about Sister Gratiana moving on. This article contains more detail about her achievements as Director of Nursing. |
In 1983 sister was still ab le to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee Extraordinary of 75 years in the Community from her wheel chair. She moved to St Clare Convent in 1985 when it opened.
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| Sister Gratiana in the mid to late 1970s. |
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| Sister Gratiana in the 1980s. |
During the last few months of Sister's life, Sister was very confused and wished someone to be near her at all times. The Sisters at both St Clare and Our Lady of Sorrows tried to be with her as much as they possibly could. Many times one would pass by her room and the rosary was being prayed or songs were being sung.
Rev Frederick Schuller, ,S.J. conduced the Wake Service on June 22, 1987 at Our Lady of Sorrows Convent. During the service Father pointed out how when one has faithfully said "yes" to God throughout her life, then all work, prayer, and being is accepted as "yes" and cannot be measured by human standards. The love of God overcomes all earthly recognition.
The Mass of Resurrection was celebrated on June 23, 1987 at Our Lady of Sorrows Convent. The relatives that were able to attend were: her sister, Sister M Adele Hirt; her brother, Anthony Hirt; his wife, Eva Hirt; and their daughter , Joanne Lecander. Bishop Beltran was the main celebrant.
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| Sister M. Gratiana's headstone at Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Courtesy Find a Grave website. |
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