Sister Vita Heilman, 85, of Mother of God Monastery died Thursday, February 22, 2007 in Jenkins Living Center in Watertown following a long illness. A Liturgical Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2007, at the Monastery.

Sister Vita (Anna Marie) was born August 14,1921, to Peter and Mary (Bachman) Heilman. She grew up on a farm 7 miles north of Bowdle, attending country school about a mile from their home.

Anna Marie joined the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, SO in August, 1935 and attended Mount Marty High School. In June, 1939 she made her monastic profession and the next day entered Sacred Heart School of Nursing, graduating in 1942. Two weeks later, Sister Vita entered Sacred Heart School of Anesthesia.

Sister Vita's entire professional career was in the field of health care. She served as an anesthetist for forty years. In early years, nurses functioned in a variety of roles. Besides working in the operating and emergency room, she started the first Central Supply and Recovery Room at SI. Mary's Hospital in Pierre. Sister Vita handled the purchasing for Surgery and Central Supply, provided physiotherapy, managed' the blood bank, and worked in the lab and obstetrics departments. At times she also supervised the surgical floor and was night supervisor for the entire hospital.

Sister Vita spent 20 years as an anesthetist in the SI. Cloud Hospital, often free-lancing in neighboring small hospitals. She was noted for her dedication and was deeply loved by the doctors, staff and her co-workers.

During her career, Sister Vita served in the hospitals in Yankton, Parkston, and Pierre, SO; Canon City, CO; and SI. Cloud, MN. She spent five years as school nurse at the Stephan Indian Mission. She was so compassionate and out-going, as she ministered to the needy Indian children.

Retiring from nursing and anesthesia in 1988, she returned to the Monastery where she began her ministry to the residents at Benet Place and to the home-bound in Florence and Henry.

Sister Vita loved to celebrate and entertain and was always the first at a party. She was a wonderful cook, especially noted for her kuchen and other German dishes. Other hobbies included polka dancing, knitting, listening to music and traveling. Sister Vita was very close to her family, and her travels often took her to the homes of her nieces and nephews across the country.

She is survived by her sisters at Mother of God Monastery, one sister-in-law Mary Heilman, and many nieces, nephews and friends.