S. Faith Sitzmann OSB

S. Faith Sitzmann OSB, 86, died January 13, 2009 at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, NE after a lengthy illness. She was a member of Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton.

A wake service will be held on Thursday, January 15th at 7:30 p.m. and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 16th at 11 a.m. in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery.

Wintz & Ray Funeral Home, Yankton, is in charge of arrangements.

Eunice Catherine Sitzmann was born near Kingsley, Iowa on December 2, 1922 to George and Mary (Carel) Sitzmann. She was the ninth in a family of 10 girls and 3 boys. Seven of the girls and two of the boys were to enter religious communities. She attended a rural, one-room elementary school near the family home in Plymouth County, IA. She then attended Mount Marty High School in Yankton and joined the Yankton Benedictines following her graduation in 1940. She became a novice in 1941 and received the name of S. Faith. Her first profession was in June, 1942 and her final profession in 1945.

S. Faith earned a B.A. degree from Mount Marty College and a M.A. degree in Education Administration from Loyola University in Chicago. Her ministry included teaching elementary students in Farmer, Aberdeen, Yankton and Sioux Falls, SD in addition to being principal at Farmer, Yankton, Little Flower School and Christ the King School in Sioux Falls. She then served as principal of Mount Marty High School. She became the first Director of Education for the Diocese of Sioux Falls in 1969. Later she served at Creighton University and Holy Ghost Parish in Omaha, at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, and at Mount Marty College.

S. Faith was a woman of quick wit who loved life and new adventures. She delighted in taking "the road less traveled."

S. Faith is survived by her Benedictine community, and three sisters: Ruth Morrissey, Kingsley, IA; Marlys Koopman, LeMars, IA; and S. Rosalie Sitzmann OSB, Watertown, SD as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and nine siblings.

Memorial may be directed to the Sitzmann Family Scholarship at Mount Marty College, Yankton, SD.

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