Mother Edmond S.S.T.V.

November 14, 1915

Mother Edmond of Canterbery, S.S.T.V., (Sisters of Saint Thomas of Villanova) was born Franziska Romana Kaiser, November 14, 1915 in Baal, Switzerland.  She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Eleonor Durneder Kaiser.
She was predeceased by her brother Joseph Kaiser, sister-in-law Klara Ropenel Kaiser and her sister Eleonor Kaiser.  She leaves behind nephew Ralp Kaiser, a niece Helen Doris Kaiser and a cousin Sisi Haerberlin.
Mother Edmond was truly a “Servant of the Lord”. On September 19, 1937 she entered the postulancy in Lustin, Belgium, and then on September 1938 entered the noviciate in Neuilly sur Seine (Paris), France.  World War II started and she was sent to Moncontour Brittany France to finish her noviciate, and pronounced her first vows on September 20, 1939, in Moncontour. Her first house after her vows was Saint Lawrence Hospital, Rennes Brittany France, where she resided from 1939 to 1948.
During the war, Mother Edmond was known to be a very courageous woman who performed heroic actions. She was recognized for her strength; helping Jewish people to escape from the Germans by hiding them for a while and providing other contacts.
In 1948, Mother Edmond was one of six pioneer Sisters who left France on the Washington Boat, arriving in New York October 9, 1948.  They were received by the Holy Ghost Fathers in Ferndale, West Norwalk, CT. She worked at the Holy Ghost Seminary until October of 1958. At this time she was called and mandated with a new mission to be the Mistress of Novices at the Notre Dame Convalescent Home, Inc. She applied herself and formed novices the year she was there.
Mother Edmond was then called back to France in September 1959 where she was appointed to help out in one of the order’s schools: Bry sur Marne until 1962. Because she was ready and willing, she was once again called upon to go and help at a spiritual centre of the order, St. Sulpice la Ramee, in L’Oise, France. She became the Mother Superior of the Retreat Center in 1969 until leaving France once again for Norwalk, CT in April 1977.  She was appointed Mother Superior of Notre Dame Convalescent Home, Inc, and served until May 9, 2005, when she stepped down due to health and old age. She was in her 73rd year of Vows.  After completing the state dietary course, she also worked in the kitchen department from 1977 until 1989.

Mother Edmond was loved, appreciated and known to be a very special loving and caring person. She always was very attentive to the poorest of the poor. She is one of those people who knew how to make a difference in our world and in our city of Norwalk.
A Catholic Celebration of the Life of Mother Edmond of Canterbury will take place in St. Philip Church, 1 Fr. Conlon Place, Norwalk, Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:30 AM.
Friends and family may pay their respects on Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the vestibule of the Church.
All contributions in memory of Mother Edmond are welcome and to be sent to: SISTERS of SAINT THOMAS of VILLANOVA, 76 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 06851.