Sister Mary Clarea Hotze, SSND

(née Agnes Hotze)

First Profession August 1, 1941

Motherhouse

St. Louis, Missouri

Beloved sister of Sister Mary Helen Hotze, SSND; Rev. Al. J. Hotze, SVD; Rev. Leo F. Hotze, SVD; & Rev. Clement Hotze, SVD; devoted niece of Sister Mary Bertholda Hotze, SSND; Sister Mary Barnaba Steinnerd, SSND; & Sister Mary Bertrand Steinnerd, SSND.

In 1903, Bernard Hotze accepted the position as teacher and organist in the parish school in Leopold, Mo. Later, he would become the principal and teach three generations of students and would be known as "Teacher Hotze." He married another teacher at the school, Anna Steinnerd, who would give birth to nine children: four boys and five girls; one boy died in infancy.

Agnes Joanna was the sixth child born to Anna [Steinnerd] and Bernard Hotze on September 30, 1918, in Leopold, Mo. Agnes was baptized on October 4, 1918, at St. John's Church in Leopold. The three living boys would become Divine Word missionaries; three of the girls would become members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame: Sister Mary Helen and the former Sister Bernard Ann would join their older sister, Sister Clarea.

Agnes attended the parish school and was taught by her father during the last four years of her elementary education. As a young child, she wanted to become a teaching sister. When she was in the sixth grade, she told her father of her desire. When it was time to select a high school, she wished to attend the SSND aspiranture at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis. Agnes was small and frail when she graduated from grade school and her father insisted that she remain at home a year before beginning her secondary education.

Agnes entered the aspiranture in 1933 and finished high school and one year of college. She was admitted to the candidature on August 31, 1938. She was received into the novitiate on July 31, 1940, and given the name Mary Clarea after her older sister, Clara. She made first profession of vows on August 1, 1941, and final vows on August 1, 1947.

Sister Clarea began her teaching career at St. Francis de Sales, St. Louis, Mo. This experience was followed by seven years at St. Mary's Assumption, New Orleans, La. and six years at St. Elizabeth, Alice, Texas where she was also the principal.

In 1955, her desire to follow in the footsteps of her missionary brothers was answered when she was called upon to teach in Notre Dame Secondary School in Kyoto, Japan. Sister Clarea was missioned in Japan for 49 years. She also served as a teacher and principal at the Notre Dame Elementary School in Kyoto. She ministered as novice directress and served one term on the regional leadership team as a councilor in Japan. Sister Clarea returned to the United States in January 2004 and continued to volunteer at Sancta Maria in Ripa. In July 2006, she was transferred to Anna House. Sister Clarea died peacefully at Anna House on September 25, 2015, at 1 p.m. as family and sisters prayed with her. It was five days before her 97th birthday

Sister Clarea had a great love, reverence and respect for the Japanese people and their culture. Her integration into the Japanese culture and language was so real that she was often seen as being Japanese. She had a love of gardening and the outdoors and would often be seen pulling weeds on her daily walks. She enjoyed bird watching, reading and working crossword puzzles. Her lovely smile reflected the many beautiful and happy memories of her life of service to God's people. May she be welcomed into the loving arms of her God whom she served so generously during her years as a School Sister of Notre Dame.

School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!