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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of Sister Emilie Eilers on March 20, |
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2025, at the age of 90, concluded a remarkable life of religious |
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service; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Grafe Eilers, |
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Emilie Eilers was born in Hallettsville on July 2, 1934, and she |
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grew up as the eldest of her nine siblings, Betty Jean, Shirley, |
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Joseph, Paul, Timothy, Thomas, Michael, Mary, and Cynthia; she |
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attended Sacred Heart Catholic School before going on to graduate |
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from Nazareth Academy, and she entered the postulancy of the |
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Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament at Nazareth |
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Convent on December 2, 1951; her training as a novice began on June |
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2, 1952, and she pronounced her first vows a year later; and |
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WHEREAS, Sister Emilie earned a bachelor's degree in biology |
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from Incarnate Word College and a master's degree in educational |
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administration from Southwest Texas State University; over the |
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course of her seven decades as a professed member of her |
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congregation, she taught students at Holy Cross Catholic School in |
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Bay City, Assumption School in Ganado, and St. Leo the Great |
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Catholic School in San Antonio; in addition, she provided skillful |
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guidance as principal of St. Joseph High School in Victoria, as |
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well as St. Michael's Catholic School in Cuero and Our Lady of |
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Victory Catholic School in Victoria, both of which she also served |
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as a teacher; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of her congregation's leadership team for |
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nearly two decades, Sister Emilie was instrumental to such |
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initiatives as setting up the convent's outdoor stations of the |
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cross and rosary path; after taking a one-year sabbatical to |
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Berakah in New Hampshire, she also earned her certification in |
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spiritual direction and began her service as the congregation's |
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ongoing formation director; moreover, she assisted in organizing |
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the board of the Amor Meus Spirituality Center, which she served for |
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a time as president; and |
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WHEREAS, In her leisure hours, Sister Emilie delighted in |
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praying, traveling, fishing, boating, gardening, and cooking; she |
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greeted everyone with a radiant smile, and she enjoyed many happy |
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moments in the company of her sisters, family, and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, Sister Emilie Eilers led a life of caring devotion |
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to her faith, her congregation, and her community, and although she |
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is deeply missed, her spirit will forever live in the hearts of all |
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who were privileged to know her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Sister Emilie |
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Eilers and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: |
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to her siblings, Joseph Eilers and his wife, Barbara, Paul Eilers |
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and his wife, Kathy, Timothy Eilers and his wife, Lori, Thomas |
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Eilers and his wife, Cindy, Michael Eilers and his wife, Judy, Mary |
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Lindig and her husband, Johnny, and Cynthia Weaver; and to her other |
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relatives, friends, and fellow sisters; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sister |
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Emilie Eilers. |