In 1816, after the death of Mother Julie, Mother St. Joseph is elected Superior General and will remain so until the end of her life.  She faithfully continues the work of her friend; she draws up the rule, completes the foundations at Liège and Dinant and creates those at Thuin, Verviers, Philippeville and Bastogne. 

Her big concern will be to keep the unity of the Congregation under the Dutch regime between 1815 and 1830.  To this end, she accepts naturalization as a citizen of the Netherlands, takes the exams before State examiners and takes charge of hospices since schools are no longer viable.  In 1815, in spite of the opposition of some sisters, she preserves intact the spirit of the Institute.

She dies at Namur on February 9, 1838.  She leaves an abundant correspondence in which are evident her realism, her openness, and her knowledge of the human person, as well as her supernatural spirit. 

Timeline:

1814: Re-establishment of the Jesuits by Pius VII
1815: Battle of Waterloo
1815: Congress of Vienna
1815: Obligation of taking an oath to the Fundamental Law [Constitution], which reduces freedom of religion and, in the field of teaching, rejects all foreign religious authority.
1815-1830: Reunion of the future Belgian and Dutch provinces under William of Orange
1830: Independence of Belgium