The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-26
SISTER ALEXIA IS
DEAD;;ST. JOSEPH'S
HOSPITAL SUPERIOR
Noble Woman Was One of
Three Who Made Possible
Success Of the Institution
Which Has Done Much Good

Sister Aiexia, mother superior OF St
Joseph's hospital, one Of the three no.
bic women who made possible that
splendid institution, is dead.
Surrounded by her co-workers, chief
aliohg them Sister Anastasia, Mother
Josepha and Mother Bernardo the lat
ter two of Lafayette, Ind, the beautiful
soul OF the woman who devoted her life
TO the care of others winged its flight
W lts Maker at 4I0 o'clock Tuesday
morning,
Realizing that the end was near. the
iast words of Sister Alexta were OF
side.
II have done my work, | know ii
VIII pc carried on, were among the
last thoughts expressed by Sister Alexia
before she breathed her last.
Although through her service Sister
AleAia was entitled to be called Moth
eT as she was one Of the five Coun-
en-sisters, those five being the highest
In the order of St Francis in this
country, she always chose 10 be called
sister and wanted to be classed in
service for the Master along with the
hAmblest as well as the greatest And
sister AleXla she was known, and
loved by all who came in touch with
her. pure life and influence,
Der life's ambition since the success
OF 81. Joseph's, whose founding was
part OF her early work, was the
erection of a hospital for the poor.
as sister superior of St Joaepli's a
sessed OF this worlds goods, ever
made an appeal to the hospital
over which Sister Alexia presided With
out meeting with loving response. Hun
dreds OF instances can be recalled by
every sister under her watchful care
NnlN lNAF n pal,r La, N.
has been given the best the nstItu-
tion could afford without price or prom
lse of reward
Give them the best we have. 1t
Is the Masters work. she would say,
and this was the Pudding principle Of
the liTe that Is gone, a life that win
be mourned by hundreds In Memphis
and surrounding territory called to re.
ceiNe the final reward Of good deeds
done in the flesh.
Sister Alexia was born In Getting,
Germany, 63 years ago, Early in life
she took the veil She was Alexia Son
deman before she entered the service
of the church, Coming TO America when
scarcely over 20 years Old, her life hnd
personality soon won for her places OF
prominence where executive ability,
perseverance, and conservation to duty
were demanded, She was instrumental
in the founding Of the st Alexis hos
pllhl III SltNtidHu, VI, Ill tnB llte 'SU n,
and soon thereafter she came to Mem
phs.
With Sisters Marsela and Benedicta,
Sister Alexia had n vision OF q great
hospital In Memphis, Times were hard,
sickness was on every hand, and the
purse strings OF the charitably inclined
were drawn In closely.
Yet, with perseverance born Of inspi-
ratons, these three sisters persistently
worked on and on, receiving little en-
couragement at first, but finally they
began to interest men of means of the
Catholic faith, until in 1889 the realiza-
ton Of their dreams came with the com
pletion OF st. Iosephs hospital
In 1880 Sister Anastasia came, and
since that time has been closely assoei-
ated with Sister Alexla III all the work
Of direction and administration at the
hospital. Sister Marsella, one Of Sister
Alexia's associates In the founding OF
st, Joseph's. preceded her In death a
little over a year ago,
Funeral arrangements are incomplete
but the final ceremony will be said at
St Joseph's chapel Thursday morning
at 10 o'clock, followed by burial in Call
vary cemetery.
Sister Alexia's parents are dead A
brother and sister In Germany survive.
She was one If number Of sieters Of
St Joseph's hospital all Of whom, re-
Gently took out naturalization papers of
intention TO become citizens of the
United States.