The funeral for Sister Ernestine Mersek, 94, Valley City, is at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, at Maryvale Convent Chapel near Valley City with Rev. Claude Seeberger, OSB, celebrant. Sister Ernestine died Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at Mercy Hospital in Valley City.
Visitation is from 4 until 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., in Maryvale Convent Chapel. Interment will be in Maryvale Cemetery near Valley City.
Sister Ernestine (Elizabeth) Mersek was born Feb. 13, 1914, at Rockvale, Colo., to John and Margaret (Blatnick) Mersek. She professed her vows as a Sister of Mary of the Presentation on Feb. 9, 1935, in Broons, France. She attended Logan Elementary School in Spring Valley, IL, and high school at St. Catherine High School in Valley City. After her novitiate in France, she went to Paris for one year to help care for the sick at the Holy Cross Father’s Minor Seminary.
After her return to the United States, she worked at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley and later went to St. Andrew’s School of Nursing in Bottineau, graduating in 1949.
After Sister Ernestine received her RN degree, she went to Minneapolis, Minn., to receive her degree as a nurse anesthetist. She worked in that capacity for 30 years.
Sister Ernestine’s third career was in the Pastoral Care Department in Spring Valley. In July 1999, she retired too Maryvale Convent near Valley City.
Sister Ernestine is survived by her religious community, the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation; two sisters, Ann Battaglia, Spring Valley, IL, and Ernestine Yerly, Wyoming, IL, and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements are with Lerud-Johnson-Schuldt Funeral Home of Valley City.
Sister Albert Marie Burkhartsmeier, 95, Valley City, died Friday Aug. 8, 2008, at Maryvale Convent, Valley City.
The funeral Mass for Sister Albert Marie is at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, in Maryvale Convent Chapel near Valley City, with Rev. Michael Schommer celebrant. Interment is in the Maryvale Cemetery near Valley City.
Visitation is from 4 until 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., Monday, in Maryvale Convent Chapel.
Sister Albert Marie (Helen Mitzel) was born Aug. 6, 1913, in Orrin, N.D., to Philip and Elizabeth (Volk) Mitzel. At a young age she was placed under the guardianship of Anton and Justina (Stroder) Burkhartsmeier. She attended elementary school in Rugby, and later attended boarding schools in Willow City and Valley City. She received her standard diploma in elementary education from the Catholic University in Washington, DC.
Sister Albert Marie professed her vows as a Sister of Mary of the Presentation on Feb. 8, 1934, in Broons, France. After her vows, she spent one year in Guernsey (Channel Islands) doing a variety of work and returned to the United States in 1935. She then began her teaching career in the primary grades and taught in the Catholic Schools in Willow City, Wild Rice, Oaks, Walhalla, and Valley City, all in North Dakota. She retired from teaching in 1985 and served many years as sacristan and tending plants at Maryvale.
Sister Albert Marie is survived by her religious community, the Sister of Mary of the Presentation; one sister, Eva Schmaltz, one brother, Fred (Elizabeth) Mitzel, both of Rugby; one sister-in-law, Mary Mitzel, Fargo, and numerous nieces and nephews.Arrangements are by Lerud-Johnso-Schuldt Funeral Home in Valley City.
