Anneliese Kotterik, historian and nun, dies at 93 after a life of faith and scholarship

Anneliese Kotterik, a historian and devoted member of the Sisters of Our Lady, passed away in February 2026 at the age of 93. Born in Duisburg in 1932, she grew up in a working-class family before dedicating her life to education, religious service, and documenting the history of her order. Kotterik spent her early years in the Laar district of Duisburg, where her father worked as a miner. From the age of two, she attended a kindergarten run by the Sisters of Our Lady until starting school in 1939. After World War II ended in 1945, she resumed her education and later qualified as an office administrator in 1949.

In 1953, she joined the Sisters of Our Lady, a religious order that would shape much of her life's work. She earned her state teaching certification in German and history in 1965, combining her academic interests with her vocation. Over the years, she took on key roles within the order, including serving as First Assistant in Rome, where she represented the Superior General. Her leadership extended beyond administration. Under Sister Maria Mechtilde, Kotterik helped guide structural changes in the **Kongregation Unserer Lieben Frau**, including the 2007 merger of the Mülhausen Province into the Coesfeld Province. She also managed the order's guesthouse in Rome while maintaining ties with communities in Germany, the Netherlands, and Korea. Alongside these duties, she authored a detailed *History of the Mülhausen Province from 1888 to 2007*, preserving the legacy of the region's religious life.

Kotterik's contributions spanned education, religious leadership, and historical scholarship. Her work ensured the preservation of her order's history while supporting its global connections. Until her death, she remained active in the communities she served for decades.