Sister Mary Ann Becker, RSM (1925-2022)

BECKER, FRESE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/7/2022 at 08:53:18

SISTER MARY ANN BECKER, RSM Cedar Rapids
Sister Mary Ann Becker, RSM, 96, died on Sept. 4, 2022, at Hallmar Care Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after a brief illness. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, by the Rev. Greg Bahl. Burial will be at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, with a wake service at 6:30 p.m. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services. Masks are required at the services.

Sister Mary Ann Becker was born on Nov. 21, 1925, in Watkins, Iowa, the daughter of John and Anna (Frese) Becker. She attended St. Michael School in Norway, Iowa, and graduated from Norway High School, in Norway, Iowa, in 1942. She entered the Cedar Rapids Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in 1944.

Sister Mary Ann received a degree in Secretarial Science from Mount Mercy Junior College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1944. She received a B.S. degree in Accounting from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., in 1951. Additionally, she earned a M.A. degree in Office Management and Business Education from the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1961. She completed various post graduate and continuing education programs throughout her ministry.

Sister Mary Ann’s first ministry was teaching. From 1947 to 1970, she taught in the following schools: Sacred Heart School, Oelwein, Iowa; St. Patrick School, Anamosa, Iowa; Immaculate Conception School, Charles City, Iowa; Sacred Heart School, Waterloo, Iowa; Mount Mercy Academy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; St. John School, Clarion, Iowa; St. Wenceslaus High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Immaculate Conception High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Regis High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Columbus High School, Waterloo,

Iowa; and Immaculate Conception School, Elma, Iowa. She was the principal of Immaculate Conception School, Elma, Iowa, in 1966-1968.

Sister Mary Ann was a Chaplain at Mercy Hospital Fairfield, Fairfield, Ohio, and Mercy Hospital, Hamilton, Ohio, from 1990-1991.

She worked in various business offices providing services as the Business Manager/Office Manager from 1970-1999: Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sisters of Mercy; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Life Investors Ins. Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Diocesan Pastoral Center, Denver, Colo.; St. Bernadette Parish, Lakewood, Colo.; and St. Patrick Parish, Fairfax, Iowa.

Upon her retirement in 1999, Sister Mary Ann volunteered at Sacred Heart Convent, the Catherine McAuley Center, and the Community Health Free Clinic.

Sister Mary Ann was known for using her time, talents and abilities for others. She cared deeply for those who suffered injustices and through her volunteer work was able to serve those in need in her community, Sister Mary Ann was a vowed member of the Sisters of Mercy for 78 years.

In addition to the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary Ann is survived by sister-in-law, Mary Becker, Newhall, Iowa; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna; siblings, Helen (Glenn) Boddicker, Hazel (Clarence) Schulte and Ida Mae (Ralph) Houser; George (Bernice) Becker, Wilbert (Dorothy) Becker and Louis Becker; and a brother-inlaw, Mark Oberreuter.

Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy at 1125 Prairie Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.