Sister Fidelia Hambaugh, 1900-1983
Born July 21,1900, Cincinnati, Ohio
Entered St. Walburg Monastery, June 2, 1926
First Profession August 24, 1928
Died July 18, 1983
Sr. Fidelia Hambaugh was the only child of William and Anna Miller Hambaugh and given the name Clara at her baptism. Clara entered St. Walburg Monastery on June 2, 1926 and received the habit and her new name on March 21, 1927. Sr. Fidelia made first profession on August 24, 1928 and final profession on August 24, 1931. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee on July 2, 1953 and Golden on July 9, 1975.
After a year of college and serving in the monastery laundry and garden for a time, Sr. Fidelia was introduced to the classroom and served in the following schools:
- Holy Cross (Grade 2) 1928-29
- St. John Orphanage (Grades 1-3) 1929-1931
- Sts. Peter & Paul, Twelve Mile (Grades 1-4) 1948-53
- St. Francis Xavier, Falmouth (Grades 1-4) 1954-56
- Holy Guardian Angels (Grades 1-3) 1956-57
- St. Paul, Florence (Grade 4) 1952-62
- St. Ann, Manchester (Grades 1 and 4) 1962-64
- St. Therese (Grades 2 and 3) 1964-67
- Mary Queen of Heaven (Grades 3 and 4) 1967-69
Many of her students remembered her fondly for her love of nature and for keeping rabbits in the classroom. After 1970 Sr. Fidelia retired to the monastery infirmary where her death occurred on July 18, 1983.