ST. PAUL — Sister Rosalind Gefre, a 96-year-old nun known for her work as a massage therapist, died in hospice care at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She was among the first individuals inducted into the Massage Hall of Fame in 2006.

Born Mary Margaret Gefre in 1929 near Strasburg, N.D., she grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. After her father died when she was 5, she assisted her widowed mother. Gefre decided at age 10 to enter religious life inspired by nuns who taught summer religion classes. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1948 at age 19, adopting the name Sister Rosalind in 1949. She became a licensed practical nurse in 1968, later taking a leave for her mother.

After experiencing relief from chest pain following a massage, Gefre trained in massage therapy, completing more than 1,000 hours of training. In 1983, she opened a clinic on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. A police vice unit closed the clinic two days after opening, citing a city ordinance intended to prevent prostitution. Gefre and partners obtained a temporary restraining order to reopen. She stated in a 2003 book some order members pressured her to leave the convent. She received housing from a Protestant friend after other convents refused shelter, but the order later accepted her practice.

Local officials requested her assistance revising municipal ordinances to streamline licensing. She attended city council meetings to contribute to the revisions. She operated seven clinics and founded five massage schools. Five clinics closed, while two remaining locations continue to use her name with permission. Peter Fahnlander, a former student who worked with Gefre for more than 30 years and later became president of her business, said, "She really blew the doors open."

In 1993, the St. Paul Saints hired Gefre to provide chair massages at baseball games. Her chair was positioned above third base. She kept a beer near her workstation and wore a sweater and skirt. For opening day in 1993, she wore a black habit and rosary beads from a costume shop. Her presence led to merchandise. She retired from the Saints during the COVID-19 pandemic after nearly three decades. Plaster casts of her hands are exhibited at the ballpark's City of Baseball Museum. Fahnlander said, "When she laid her hands on you, you felt a powerful, powerful love."

Gefre completed tandem skydives at age 70 and again at age 84. Her participation at age 84 supported Aging But Dangerous, an organization encouraging women over 50 to attempt new activities. Proceeds were donated to Sarah's Oasis for Women, a shelter for survivors of sex trafficking operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.