Sister Helen Anne Klepaida

Little Falls, Minnesota............Sister Helen Anne Klepaida, 93, died on November 1, 2012, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Convent on November 10, 2012, at 11 a.m. Friends may call at St. Francis Convent on November 9, from 4 – 8:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral on November 10, at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by Shelley Funeral Chapel, Little Falls. Sister Helen Anne was born on June 12, 1919, in Chicago, Ill. She was the fourth of 10 children born to the late Michael and Elizabeth (Kott) Klepaida. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minn., on August 12, 1936. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1938, and final vows on August 12, 1941. She was a Franciscan Sister for 76 years. Sister Helen Anne had an unusual amount of energy even in her later years. It was in those years that she became a volunteer disaster American Red Cross nurse and loved every minute of it as she assisted people suffering from floods, tornados, etc. She had a deep love and concern for people and cared for them in a vigilant and professional way. She said that her greatest privilege was to become a nurse and imitate Saint Francis in caring for the ill and needy. Each day she set as her goal to be kind, caring and loving to all who came into her life. She loved to read, travel, spend time with friends and do jigsaw puzzles in her free time. The celebration of Eucharist and private prayer where top priority for her. Sister Helen Anne received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Mary, Bismarck, N. Dak. She also attended the State School of Science, Wahpeton, N. Dak., and the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul. Sister Helen Anne ministered as a housekeeper, office clerk, bookkeeper, staff nurse, public health nurse and volunteer disaster nurse. She served in Cudahy, Wis.; St. Cloud, Little Falls, Breckenridge, St. Nicholas, Onamia, Alexandria, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Joseph, Mary, John, Rose Kobylinski and Edward. Survivors include siblings: Peter, Schaumburg, Ill.; Anthony, St. Paul; Monica Polnik, Chicago, Ill.; Emily (Jerome) Troje, St. Paul; nieces, nephews and her Franciscan Community. Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.

Tributes

Sister Helen Anne Klepaida

June 12, 1919 - November 1, 2012