Born Ann DESCOVICH
Daughter of Ignazio and Margaret DESCOVICH.
Spent her childhood at Blumberg and Mount Pleasant in South Australia.
Ann became a novice under Mary McKillop taking her vows as Mary Hildergarde.
Mary rests with the Sisters of St. Joseph at Box Hill Cemetery, Melbourne Vic.
She died 26th April 1962

Her obituary was as follows -

The busy word is hushed      -     The fever of life is over     -     Her work is done.
It is not given to many to spend in the Lord's service such a record of number of years as those spent by Sister Hildergarde, who passed away quietly and peacefully on Thursday morning 26th April in the 75th year of her Religious Life.  Conscious until the last few minutes, she waited patiently and with a smile "for the call", as she herself expressed it, resigned and ready when it came.
Born in South Australia Ninety Seven years ago, sister Hildergarde had the distinction of being one of Mother Mary's own novices, so when a superior was required for the first foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Victoria (Numurkah in the Sandhurst Diocese) in the year 1889, Sister was the one chosen.
Most of her early years in religion were spent in teaching, first at Numurkah, later at Camberwell, Strathford, Morewell, Lancefield, Yarraville, in later years she tookover the management of Surrey Hills Boys Home. Although living in retirement at Camberwell for last few years of life, Sister was far from idle, always finding something useful to occupy her time from morning till night.  Being blessed with good health, it was her joy to give help wherever needed, in the house or around the garden.  Her favourite occupation was the making of Cinctures in all the rubial colours a much esteemed gift when received in any parish.