Sister Henry Marie Zimmermann

Sister Henry Marie Zimmermann, O.S.B., passed to eternal life on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Saint Benedict Monastery in Bristow. Born on March 25, 1931 in Richmond, VA to Henry Andrew and Thelma Edith (Seay) Zimmermann, she was christened Anne Elizabeth at Saint Benedict Catholic Church, and later attended both Saint Benedict Catholic School (’44) and Saint Gertrude High School (’48). Upon high school graduation, she entered Saint Benedict Monastery on September 8, 1948, professed first vows in 1951 and perpetual vows on April 8, 1954. Known in religion as Sister Henry Marie, her first mission was back to her childhood school, Saint Benedict on Grove Avenue in Richmond. Subsequently she served at Saint Rose of Lima (Hampton), Sacred Heart (Richmond), Linton Hall (Bristow), Saint John Vianney Seminary (Richmond), Saint Charles (Arlington), and Saint Gertrude (Richmond). Sister Henry Marie held the monastic charges of Subprioress, Secretary, Treasurer, Business Office Manager, Monastic Council Member, and Delegate to the Federation of Saint Scholastica. Most of all, Sister Henry Marie was a deeply faithful and faith-filled religious woman, who set an example of prayerfulness, hospitality, kindness and generosity in the Benedictine tradition. She only hoped that after her death she would be remembered as one who “loved her God and it showed.” To this, all who knew her can testify. Sister Henry Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Thelma, and her sisters Agnes Zimmermann Redford and Josephine Zimmermann. She is survived by the 27 members of her Benedictine community; a brother, Andrew Zimmermann, O.S.B., a monk of St. Meinrad’s Archabbey, IN; her nieces Lynn Reynolds (Danny) and Joanne Sherlock (John), her nephew Andrew Redford (Casey), and many great and twice-great nieces and nephews. A public celebration of Sister Henry Marie’s life will take place at Saint Benedict Monastery at a future date, due to the current health restrictions. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia. For more information, please contact Sister Joanna Burley, O.S.B. at 571-422-3525.