Born Emma Fickley, Sister Hilda Fickley was the daughter of Henry J. Fickley and Maria Philomina Miller.

In the 1900 census of Allegheny County, Pa., Emma Fickley, age 32, born Nov 1867, was working as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital.

By 1910, Emma was Sister Hilda Fickley, 43, Hospital Nurse, at New Castle Hospital. She was also a nurse there in 1920 and 1930.

Sister Hilda was born November 28, 1868 in Pittsburgh, and died April 7, 1953 at St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh.