A memorial Mass for Sister Anita Marie Lischwe, SSND, was celebrated on March 27 in Theresa Center Chapel at Sancta Maria in Ripa. Sister Anita Marie, 97, died Feb. 21 at Anna House at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton as a sister prayed with her.
The youngest of nine children was born to Katherine (Wiegers) and Joseph Lischwe on Oct. 4, 1928, in the family home in rural Brinktown, Missouri. She was baptized the following day at Guardian Angel Church and named Clara Bernardine. The family saw five of their nine children embrace religious life: Sister Anita Marie, SSND; the deceased Sister Tarsilla, SSND; Sister Michael Marie, FSM; Sister Marie Boniface, MM; and Father Bruno, CSsR.
Clara entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa on Aug. 28, 1947. She completed one year of college and then was missioned to St. Anthony in Quincy, Illinois, to teach first and second grades. She was received into the novitiate on July 28, 1949, and given the name Anita Marie. She professed first vows on July 29, 1950, and final vows on July 29, 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1961 and a master’s degree in elementary administration from Saint Louis University in 1970.
Sister Anita Marie taught elementary children, mostly in the primary grades, for 23 years. In Missouri, she taught at St. Francis Borgia in Washington, St. Joseph in Apple Creek, St. Boniface in Koelztown, St. Joseph in Westphalia, Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Louis and Holy Family in Freeburg. In Illinois, she taught at St. Anthony in Quincy, St. Agatha in New Athens and St. Michael in Radom.
From 1972-77, Sister Anita Marie cared for elderly and sick sisters at Villa Gesu, the retirement home for the former St. Louis Province. She earned her licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate in 1978 and returned to Villa Gesu for the next 20 years.
Starting in 1999, she served as a volunteer at the Santa Ana Apartments in St. Ann and at Anna House, The Sarah Community. She lived at Holy Angels Apartments, then Veronica House and Anna House at The Sarah Community.
Sister Anita Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine and Joseph Lischwe; her sisters, Sister Tarsilla, SSND, Sister Michael Marie, FSM, and Sister Boniface, MM; and her brothers, Father Bruno, CSsR, Joseph, Herbert, Alphonse and Anthony.
She gifted her body to Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
