Olive Geiger Obituary

Geiger OSB
Sister Olive Therese Geiger OSB
November 9, 1932
November 28, 2022

Sister Olive Therese was born in McCook, Nebraska on November 9, 1932, to William Geiger and Eve Cecola Eibert Geiger. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Sister Eucharia Geiger O.P., and her brothers William, Robert, and James Geiger. She is survived by her brothers, Paul, Gerald, and Fr. Bernard Geiger O.F M. Conv.
Sister Olive Therese heard God's call to religious life at the age of thirteen. She entered Mount Saint Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas in 1951 and studied to become an educator. She earned a BA in Music Education from Mt. St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas and a BA in Religious Studies for Adults from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She taught in schools in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, gave individual music classes, was a Pastoral Administrator, Liturgical Music Director (she played both the organ and the piano), Director of Religious Education and a Spiritual Director. Most of all, her deepest desire was to live a life of contemplation like her patron St. Therese of Lisieux.
Sister Olive Therese suffered pain throughout her life because of an accident when she was hit by an automobile. Because of this, she requested a dispensation of vows in 1970. She moved to Lafayette, Colorado, bought a small house, taught music and was a receptionist at a doctor's office. Ten years later, while sweeping her kitchen floor, she heard Jesus whisper it was time to return to religious life. She entered Benet Hill Monastery in 1980 where she continued her life of contemplation and pastoral ministry. In her later years, she took great delight in the beauty of the pine forest surrounding the monastery with all its animal life. She often expressed her gratitude to God for being able to live, work and pray in such a beautiful place which enriched her contemplation.
A vigil is scheduled for Monday, December 19 at 6:00pm with a funeral mass celebrated on December 20 at 10:30am. Services will be held at Benet Hill Monastery, 3190 Benet Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 with interment at the monastery's cemetery.