Sister Claudia Klesel, daughter of the late Edmund and Annie (Till) Klesel, was born in Schulenburg, Texas. She received her elementary education at St. Edward School in Dubina and graduated from Nazareth Academy. She entered Nazareth Convent and received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on September 1, 1946 and made her first profession of vows on September 2, 1947. Sister received a BS degree with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Social Science from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio.

During the 75 years as a professed member of the Congregation, Sister Claudia taught on the elementary level and served as CCD teacher. Her teaching experiences took her to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Selma, St. Michael School in Weimar, Holy Cross School in Bay City, Sacred Heart School in La Grange, Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, St. Leo School in San Antonio, Sacred Heart School in Floresville, St. Edward School in Dubina, Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville, Nazareth Academy in Victoria, Sacred Heart School in Crosby, and St. Ludmila Academy in Shiner. Sister Claudia served as receptionist, secretary and office manager at Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio before she moved to Incarnate Word Convent in 2012; she is now in the IWC Healthcare Center where she generously continues sharing her many gifts and has entered into her Apostolate of Prayer and Suffering.