Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Lizzie/Elizabeth Mary Hilgendorf was born in 1871 in New Zealand – the daughter of Charles Augustus Gustavas Hilgendorf, a mine manager, and Elizabeth Susanna Benstead. (See 93 Mrs Hilgendorf).
When Elizabeth left school she trained as a pupil teacher at Kensington School.
She later held teaching positions at Tuapeka Flat and the school at the Benevolent Asylum.
She resigned in 1891 and when she signed the suffrage petition she was living with her mother in Cumberland St, Dunedin working as a music teacher while her father worked in Waipori.
By 1899 they were living in Waihola, south of Dunedin, where Elizabeth advertised 'Superior private accommodation'.
Her mother died in 1905 and Elizabeth remained with her father.
She was the organist at the local church and she trained the choir. In 1909 she was presented with a 'beautiful salad bowl as a slight token of esteem.'
She nursed her father before he died in 1913 and after his death she lived in Taihape and Napier.
In 1931 she was appointed as matron of the Y.W.C.A. hostel in Palmerston North where she remained until the hostel closed in 1934.
Elizabeth died on 6 April 1953 in Mount Manganui – she was cremated.