FOND DU LAC — Sister Vera (formerly Allen) Bittel died December 10, 2007, at St. Agnes Hospital. Sister Vera was born in Ellis, Kan., on April 7, 1925. She made her profession with the Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1946.
For more than 50 of her 62 years as a Sister of St. Agnes, Sister Vera served as a teacher, as parish minister, and as a pastoral caregiver in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kansas.
Her success in a variety of ministries attests to her willingness to try new things. To all her work she brought dedication, compassion, and understanding, especially of those students or adults who were misunderstood because they seemed to march to a different tune. Sister Vera’s concerns extended beyond her immediate context to include world issues of poverty, hunger, and justice. She exuded strength in facing life that gave courage to those she served as well as to her family and friends. Her positive outlook and sense of humor were contagious and drew around her many friends. Their love and her strong faith sustained her as she struggled with bouts of ill health these last three years.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on December 13 in the St. Francis Home Chapel, Fond du Lac. Burial followed at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 Cty. Rd. K, Fond du Lac, WI 54935.