I was born in 1930 on a farm in mid-Illinois where I learned to love the beauty and generosity of the land, and to respect Earth as a God-given gift. I am the eighth child of Carl and Mary Fritz. After attending public grade and high school, I studied at St. Francis College in Joliet, Illinois, where I received a degree in liberal arts, with a major in music and a minor in history.

After graduation from college I taught music for one year in a Dominican grade school in Springfield, Illinois, and then entered the Dominican Sisters. Once professed, I taught classroom music and piano lessons, took care of parish liturgies, and taught fifth and sixth grades. At Cathedral Grade School in Springfield I taught band for five years, then moved on to teach choral music at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Illinois.

In 1983 I was asked to become the prioress of the motherhouse community, which I did for seven years before becoming cook and liturgist at Benincasa Retreat Center, Riverton, Illinois (now Jubilee Farm, New Berlin, Illinois). After my years at Benincasa I returned to the Motherhouse as director of food service for eight "delicious" years. Now I am special events coordinator for the community. It is a part-time ministry, so I have time for baking, hospitality, help at Jubilee Farm and whatever else needs doing.