Sr. Anna Josita Hammerschmidt

Sister Anna Josita Hammerschmidt died March 9, 2007 at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS. She was 95 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 75 years. She was born in Walker, KS on March 28, 1912 to John and Anna Brungardt Hammerschmidt, the fourth of nine children, and was baptized Catherine Anna. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, KS on Feb. 13, 1931. On Aug. 15, 1931, Catherine received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Anna Josita. She pronounced first vows on Aug. 15, 1933 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1936. In 1947, Sister Anna received a diploma from Saint Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Manhattan, KS and then took State Boards to become a registered nurse. She was a nurse in hospitals staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Sabetha, Salina, Manhattan, Concordia, Seneca and Atwood, KS and in El Paso, TX & Belvidere, IL. From 1978 to 1993 she was semi-retired to the Motherhouse. In 2005 Sister Anna Josita moved to Mt. Joseph Senior Village in Concordia.

Sister Anna Josita was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and one sister. She is survived by a sister; Clara Irene Kuhn of Ellis, KS.

A Bible Vigil service was held on March 11, 2007 at 7 PM in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Mary Reiter as the eulogist. The Mass of Chrisitan Burial was held on March 12, 2007 at 10:30 AM in the Motherhouse Chapel, Rev. Jack Schlaf presiding. The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare/Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters.

Source: Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home