She Said Yes at 17: Seventy Years Later, Sister Jeanie Hagedorn Is Still Grateful

by Emmett McMenamy | August 25, 2026

In 1956, when she was 17 years old, Jeanie Hagedorn entered the convent to become a Sister of the Humility of Mary. Now, in 2026, she’ll celebrate the 70th anniversary of that life-changing decision. 

“I thought: no way, I won't live that long,” Hagedorn said. “But here we are."

Hagedorn was originally drawn to consecrated life by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who taught her at St. Joseph in Des Moines and were her inspiration. She also credits her parents’ faith and willingness to make sacrifices to send Hagedorn and her two sisters to Catholic schools. Regardless, Hagedorn had to show her parents that consecrated life was the correct path for her. 

She had barriers to overcome. Her mother grew up on a farm, and her father wasn’t Catholic at the time, so her family had no connection to sisters. Her parents also had misconceptions about the life of sisters, thinking Hagedorn would go to the convent and disappear from their lives. 

“They just were very reluctant because of this image of never seeing me again, and the youngest leaving,” Hagedorn said.

Not wanting to lose their daughter, Hagedorn’s mother suggested that she wait a few years, work a job, and then decide if becoming a sister was really for her. But Hagedorn knew that if she didn’t say yes at 17, she wouldn’t say yes later. 

“I really felt called to go then,” she said.

Having been surrounded by the BVM sisters growing up, Hagedorn wanted to join their order. But when she was stuck between pleasing her parents by staying home or entering the convent, a friend suggested she reach out to the Sisters of Humility, an order inspired by Mary’s humility to live simple lives. 

Originally, Hagedorn said no, believing they’d just try to convince her to be a humility. But Hagedorn eventually reached out and visited the motherhouse in Ottumwa — a decision she didn’t know would change the course of her life. 

“It was a lovely campus,” she said. “Everything was lovely, but it wasn't Mount Carmel, and I had my heart set on Mount Carmel.”

She came home after the visit and, when her mother asked how it was, something unexplainable happened: Hagedorn said it was where she wanted to go. 

“I went in the other room, and I said, ‘Where did those words come from? That was not at all what I felt,’” Hagedorn said. “And I started crying. I thought, ‘God, what is happening to me? Because this just isn't what I have in mind.’”

Next, she bargained with God. In prayer, Hagedorn said: “Okay, if you really want me to be a humility, you're going to have to work everything out in a short time.”

God made it happen.

To enter the convent, Hagedorn needed three doctors’ approvals, and only a few days to schedule appointments. The first two doctors got her in quickly, but the last one was booked full — Hagedorn’s divine sign that entering the convent was a no. But as soon as she put the phone down, it rang again. The doctor had a cancellation; Hagedorn could come in. 

With her three doctors’ approvals, Hagedorn entered the convent and loved it immediately. When her family visited, they saw how happy she was and felt at ease with their daughter’s decision. Hagedorn’s oldest sister, Elaine, discovered her calling to the sisterhood and entered the same convent a year later.

Living out their vocation, Jeanie and Elaine Hagedorn spent many years growing close as sister Sisters. Jeanie taught in Catholic schools around Iowa, including Ottumwa, Bettendorf, and Marshalltown, as well as St. Anthony and St. Pius X in the Des Moines area. 

Jeanie and Elaine also worked together at Our Lady of the Americas and were involved with social justice issues, advocating for low-income families, immigrants, and peace and justice. The two were on Nuns on the Bus, traveling across Iowa to rural areas, cities, and small towns to listen to people’s concerns and talk about justice issues. 

Jeanie and Elaine were close. But two years ago, at the age of 88, Elaine passed away. Jeanie said she misses her “terribly” but can feel her presence and believes she’s proud as her little sister celebrates 70 years of her vocation. 

“She was so good,” Hagedorn said. “She was such a humble person and a funny person. She had a sense of humor like you wouldn't believe from morning till night.”

Each stage of life has brought different blessings for Hagedorn. This current stage has its own blessings, too. 

“Now in retirement, I’m finding this is a blessing,” she said. “I have much more time to be reflective and quiet, and have more time for prayer, time to kind of look back over my life and be grateful for all the graces that have come to me. And that’s my prayer — that we can always have grateful hearts.”

Note: Sister Jeanie Hagedorn will celebrate her 70th anniversary at St. Pius X in Urbandale on Monday, September 7, with Mass at 2 p.m. and a reception to follow. All are welcome.