Sister Vinciana Bauer, 90, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, died at Assisi Heights on Saturday, July 2, 2016.
Esther Mary Bauer was born to Gerhard and Helen (Reining) Bauer on August 18, 1925 in Adrian, Minnesota. She entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1944 from St. Peter Parish, Caledonia, Minnesota. Sister Vinciana made first vows in 1947 and perpetual vows in 1950. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota in 1961 and a Master of Science in Elementary School Administration from Winona State University, Winona, in 1966.
Sister Vinciana served as an intermediate teacher at several schools in southern Minnesota: St. Augustine, Austin (1947-1953), Cathedral School, Winona (1953-1957), Queen of Angels, Austin (1957-1958), and St. Kilian School, St. Kilian (1958-1960, 1962-1970). She also served as Principal and teacher at St. Gabriel, Fulda (1971-1972) and St. Kilian, St. Kilian (1972-1973). In addition, she taught at St. Lawrence School, Ironton, Ohio (1960-1962 and 1970-1971).
Following her years of teaching, Sister Vinciana served on the staff of the Christian Community Center at Assisi Heights (1974-1976) and at St. Theodore Parish, Albert Lea (1976-1999), where she coordinated elementary religious education, served in pastoral ministry and as a parish volunteer until her retirement to Assisi Heights in 1999.
Sister Vinciana is survived by her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 72 years, her siblings, Gordon (Wanda) Bauer, Caledonia, MN, John (Judy) Bauer, Durand, WI, Bernice Lange, Houston, MN, Vina Lange, Caledonia, MN, Rita (Lee) Svehaug, Caledonia, MN, Mary Mullen, Boise, ID, Mildred (Art) Robak, Waterford, MI. and Helen (Dave) Augedahl, Caledonia, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Vincent and Lawrence “Shorty” Bauer and a sister Theresa Heberlein.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Monday, July 11, 2016 at 11:00 o’clock in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, Rochester. Friends may call at Assisi Heights Sunday July 10 for the Vigil Service at 6:30p.m. and one hour before the Funeral Liturgy on Monday.
Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Development at Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW – Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55901.