Sister Valeria Westendorf
courtesy photo
ABERDEEN, S.D. — Sister Valeria Westendorf, 91, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died Sept. 11, 2013, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor.
Mass of Christian burial for Sister Valeria will be Monday, Sept. 16, at 2:30 p.m., in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Presentation Convent, Aberdeen, S.D. Greeting of the body and wake service was held Sunday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Reverend Joseph Sheehan will be celebrant and homilist at the funeral liturgy. Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery with Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., in charge of arrangements.
Olga Westendorf was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Geddes, S.D. to Regina (Ricken) and Fredrick H. Westendorf. She attended St. Ann School in Geddes and graduated from Geddes High School in 1939. She entered Presentation Convent Sept. 8, 1948, and made her first profession of vows Aug. 10, 1951. Sister ministered at our schools and hospitals in dietary and housekeeping departments from 1951-1969. She also worked in the business office at McKennan Hospital from 1969-1976 and in pastoral care from 1977-1985. She was at St. Joseph Hospital, in Polson, Mont. from 1985-1989 and at Prince of Peace in Sioux Falls from 1990-1993. Sister came to Presentation Convent in May 2001 and then lived at Avera Mother Joseph Manor from May 2006 until her death.
Sister Valeria is survived by her community family of Presentation Sisters: one sister, Mildred Murtha of Kimball, S.D., and two brothers, Fred Westendorf of Redmond, Ore. and Eugene Westendorf of Platte, S.D. Her parents Regina and Fredrick Westendorf; six sisters: Priscilla Sparks, Wilma Kisely, Marie Westendorf, Margaret Westendorf, Dolores Sovengier, Frieda Gurisk; and four brothers: Lawrence, Joe, Cyril, and Ed precede her in death.
Members of the Westendorf family will serve as casket bearers. You may leave messages to the family at the Spitzer-Miller Funeral home website: www.spitzerfuneralhome.com.
