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Sr Casilda was born on 27 May 1931 in Mechenhard in Lower Franconia and grew up on her parents' farm. This closeness to nature and animals accompanied her throughout her life.

After primary and vocational school, she entered our congregation in Neustadt on 1 August 1951 and made her First Profession there on 21 May 1953. In November 1953 she took over as cook in the Motherhouse Oakford Priory (South Africa) thus taking care of her fellow Sisters and the local staff. On 9 July 1956, Sr Casilda made her Final Profession in Oakford.

With the exception of short intervals in Pretoria, Genazzano/Tongaat, Ekukhanyeni and Bedfordview, Sr Casilda lived and worked in Oakford for almost 43 years, eight of them as Sub-Prioress and Prioress. Her life's work was the "Oakford Farm".

One of her great success stories was the cultivation of a coffee plantation after a farmer friend gave her 1500 young coffee plants. So, for years there was "real" coffee for breakfast in Oakford! Sr. Casilda also took care of the grounds and the crèche in Oakford. Quite naturally, she spoke the local language Zulu, and English fluently.

Since 2007Sr Casilda is spending her twilight years in our retirement home in Pietermaritzburg, always ready to offer a helping hand where needed.

May the Lord Himself be her reward and her most beautiful birthday gift and make her a blessing to others again and again.