SISTER BERTHA BAUMANN

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SISTER BERTHA BAUMANN Sr. Bertha Baumann was peacefully called to her reward by the Lord on April 19, 2005, at Tache Centre. Born in Arbuthnot, SK, September 1, 1916, from the union of Anselm Baumann and Welhelmina Banholzer who immigrated to Canada in 1912, Bertha was the third of a family of four children. Before entering the Grey Nuns on February 5, 1939, she had worked for two years at St. Joseph's Hospital in Gravelbourg. Sr. Baumann made her first vows on August 15, 1941, and three years later, she committed herself definitely to God by perpetual vows at the Mother House in Montreal. After her profession, Sr. Baumann pursued her studies and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1947 from St. Boniface General Hospital School of Nursing and in 1951 in Laboratory Technologist specializing in Clinical Chemistry. Named as Supervisor of the Laboratory at St. Boniface Hospital, she served for 12 years until her administrative skills were required and she was named Assistant Administrator of St. Boniface Hospital in 1962. A few years later, Sr. Bertha was appointed administrator of the St. Boniface Sanatorium, later to become the St. Amant Centre, an institution where she helped the cognitively impaired children and young adults of Manitoba. Community services as well as model homes in the community were launched with the support of parents, the Provincial Government and the public with whom Sr. Baumann planned on a continuous collaborative effort to help those whose development allowed this homelike living out experience. In all of these endeavours, Sr. Baumann tried to foster the well-being of the residents in its physical, emotional or spiritual needs. Sr. Bertha lived the mission of St. Marguerite d'Youville - to manifest to the needy the compassionate love of the Father with humility and compassion. Because of her deep faith and fidelity to prayer, she found her strength in difficult times. She saw in every people in need the image of God and as someone testified in a letter: You are not just a Sister who runs a big home for our Special Children, you are a warm, loving, kind person and you have become a very dear friend. After 22 years as administrator of St. Amant Centre, Sr. Baumann continued until 1994 to serve at the Provincial House in various community services but mainly as coordinator for the visiting residents whose health required medical needs at the Hospital. Sr. Bertha Baumann leaves to mourn her sister Magdalena (Thomas) and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her parents, one sister Mary and a brother Joseph. A liturgy of the Word will be held on Thursday April 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Tache Nursing Centre and the funeral the next day April 22 at 2: 00 p.m. at St. Boniface Cathedral. The Grey Nuns wish to thank the nursing staff and also the pastoral workers of 3DE of Tache Nursing Centre for their loving care and compassion towards Sr. Bertha. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949 or toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 21, 2005