The wealthy Fendrich family in Evansville often asked Mother Maddalena’s prayers. Mrs. Fendrich had fallen ill, and there were symptoms of peritonitis, which was often fatal in those days. Her daughter Laura wrote:
I called for my brother and requested that he go to the monastery and see Mother Maddalena. He told her what the doctor had said about his mother’s condition. Mother Maddalena said to him: ‘Just wait here a minute.’ My brother supposed that she went to the chapel. When she returned, Mother Maddalena said: ‘Have no fear; your mother will recover.’ When my brother and I compared notes, we found that mother began to recover just about the time at which Mother Maddalena had said ‘your mother will live.’
Mrs. Fendrich on May 2, 1905, in gratitude for her remarkable recovery, promised Mother Maddalena that she would complete the monastery building according to plans. The Servant of God was deeply grateful to God and to her benefactress. Thanks be to God! she exclaimed. Now my poor children will have a home.