Sister Elizabeth Mary Hagmaier, 90 years old, and a Sister of Notre Dame for 68 years, died peacefully July 9, 2015, just days after going to Mercy Retirement and Care Center.
Born November 29, 1924 in San Francisco to George and Elizabeth Hagmaier, Louise Frances graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Alameda and received her BA from Dominican College, San Rafael, before entering the Novitiate in 1947. She received her MA and Elementary and Secondary Credentials from the University of San Francisco.
Sister taught in Notre Dame elementary and secondary schools in San Jose, San Francisco, Marysville and Salinas. For twenty years, she served as teacher and counselor at Notre Dame/St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda where she enjoyed teaching children of some of her former classmates.
After 39 years of teaching, she took on a part-time job as Director of Religious Education at the Treasure Island Naval Base. She delighted in the totally new experience with young naval families, the interfaith staff, the officers she worked with, as well as the beautiful views from the island that reminded her of family times in Bolinas. When the Base was decommissioned in 1997, Sister taught English as a second language and worked in religious education for a time at St. Michael Parish in San Francisco. She also assisted in the Ecumenical Office of the Archdiocese and in the Guidance Department at Mercy High School, San Francisco.
While living at the Notre Dame Province Center in Belmont, Sr. Elizabeth Mary continued to be of service by taking Communion to residents at Belmont Vista Convalescent Home and assisting in the St. Vincent de Paul office in San Mateo. She was gentle and compassionate; she loved her own family and her Notre Dame community and was always mindful of issues affecting the larger world community.
Sister is predeceased by her sister, Jane Hagmaier and her brothers, Fr. George Hagmaier, CSP, and Daniel Hagmaier. She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by the Sisters of Notre Dame, her sister-in-law, Gina, her nieces, nephew, and many former students and friends.
Mass was celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2015 at Notre Dame Province Center in Belmont, preceded by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. Interment at 2:30 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.