Sister Geraldine has enjoyed the last 30 years in her position in the duplicating center at the College of Saint Benedict, where she enjoys getting to know the teachers and students and is able to fully participate in the life of prayer and work at the monastery. One who encounters her in her current position would never know the variety and adventure of her first decades of monastic life.

Her aunt, Sister Annina Zierden, was the cobbler for the community. When she died, they assigned the novice Geraldine to take her place, as if the skill would be in her genetic make-up. She learned on the job with no one to train her. Soon she moved to other positions. At least in her work in the cafeteria and as a nurse’s aide, she said, she had other Sisters to show her the ropes.

After final profession in 1962, S. Geraldine went to St. Joseph’s parish in Minneapolis as a housekeeper, laundress and cook for 18 Sisters. From there, it was off to Red Lake Indian reservation, where she baked and helped S. Johnette Kohorst prepare meals for 115 students and the 15 nuns, 2 priests and 2 monks who lived and worked there. In all her missions she remembered the wonderful community spirit. “We played as hard as we worked,” she said. After Red Lake she went to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be in charge of the religious education bookstore. She loved the mountains and the people there, and still misses them.

In her 50 years of religious life, S. Geraldine says she has been very blessed. Those who know her can say she’s been a great blessing as well.