April 29, 1941 – February 7, 2024
Sr. M. Hilaria was born on 29 April 1941 in Ingolstadt – Gerolfing. Her parents were Gabriel and Maria Brucklacher, née Heindl.
She was baptised Walburga in the parish church of St. Rupert in Gerolfing on May 2, 1941. She writes in her curriculum vitae:
“I grew up with my sisters Maria, Resi and Leni, as well as my brother Gabriel. My parents gave us children a sheltered, religious and happy childhood and upbringing. As we had a medium-sized farm, we grew up in and with nature and learned to love it.”
She attended primary school in Gerolfing from 1947-1955, as well as one year of vocational school, and entered the community of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Abenberg in September 1956.
After a one-year preliminary school course, she began training as a nursery school teacher at the congregation’s own nursery school from 1957 to 1959. She completed this training with a state final examination as a nursery school teacher. However, she never practised her profession as a nursery school teacher.
On the feast of St. Clare, August 12, 1959, she was invested with 10 candidates and received the religious name Sr. M. Hilaria with the predicate of St. Joseph. Two years later, after the novitiate period, she took her first vows. In 1964 she renewed her vows and in August 1966 she decided to remain in the community of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother for life by taking perpetual vows.
In August 1961, she was assigned to the administration department of the congregation’s own hospital and skilled. She was trained in administration and accounting in evening and special courses. From 1967, she was employed in the accounting department of the community and the provincial administration.
In 1978, she was transferred to the administration of our former spa centre in Bad Dürrnberg – Hallein – in Salzburger Land.
After working at Dürrnberg for three years, she came to Eichstätt in November 1981 because an administrative assistant was needed at the mother and child health centre.
This was a special time for her. She discovered her artistic skills and also passed them on to the mothers. Her paintings hang in the Schwesternwohnheim and some are still in the convent.
On December 31, 2003, the mother and child health centre was closed for operational reasons.
In February 2004, Sr. Hilaria therefore came to Abenberg and looked after the sacristy in the Stilla Church and also took over the gate service in the convent. Her life was filled with joy and gratitude.
After breaking her upper arm, she was no longer able to work in the sacristy. During the coronavirus pandemic in March 2022, she was transferred to the sisters’ residence for better care.
In recent months, after another fall and medical treatment, she needed round-the-clock care. Her physical strength diminished more and more.
She was called to her eternal home on February 7, 2024, and on February 13, 2024, buried in the Sisters’ Cemetery in Abenberg.
Five priests were present at the funeral and requiem in the Stilla Church: Pastor Stefan Brand, Willibald Brems, Tobias Scholz, Pastor Geuer and her cousin Pastor Andreas Kiermaier.
Her sisters, nieces, nephews and friends were also there.
R.I.P.
Submitted by Sr. Beate Nieberler