Obituary of Sister Roberta Hesse

Sister Roberta Hesse, a faith-filled Sister of St. Mary of Namur and a former missionary, died at Our Lady of Victory in Fort Worth at the age of 90 on October 31, 2024 after a long illness. 

Sister Roberta lived an extraordinary life of survival even from her early childhood, as she had to face the deaths of both parents, her mother when she was nine and her father when she was seventeen.  She was the eldest of nine children and that meant, practically speaking, she was left to care for her eight younger siblings especially after the death of her mother.

Sister Roberta was born Irene Hesse to her parents Christina Henscheid and Joseph Hesse on June 14, 1934 in Muenster, Texas.  Her desire to join the Sisters of St. Mary was only realized when her Aunt Theresa agreed to raise the eight children.  Irene (Sister Roberta) entered the Sisters of St. Mary on September 8, 1952.  She remarked, “Everything was new to me in the convent.  I found myself finishing high school and then St. Joseph School of Nursing for LVN studies.  One day a patient asked me if I was going to go to Africa.” She admitted that this thought had never occurred to her before.  However, that question was the seed that stayed planted in her mind until it was realized 5 years later when she began her missionary life serving in Africa as a nurse. It was a life of healing the sick, delivering babies, consoling others; feeding the hungry; saving lives, constructing buildings—all with a heart full of love and joy. Her loving service lasted over 40 years.

Sister Roberta’s presence at Our Lady of Victory Center during her last years of retirement was a great blessing to all who came in contact with her there. She truly lived the motto of the Congregation, “In the simplicity of my heart, I have joyfully offered all to the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 29:17)

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 3312 Dryden Rd. Fort Worth, Tx. 76109.