Age 96
Sister Mary Ann Becker was a Sister of Mercy for 78 years. 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 in 1944. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from St. Louis (MO) University in 1951. Additionally, she earned a Master of Arts degree in office management and business education from the University of Iowa in Iowa City 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 in Iowa: Sacred Heart School, Oelwein; St. Patrick School, Anamosa; Immaculate Conception School, Charles City; Sacred Heart School, Waterloo; Mount Mercy Academy, Cedar Rapids; St. John School, Clarion; St. Wenceslaus High School, Cedar Rapids; Immaculate Conception High School, Cedar Rapids; Regis High School, Cedar Rapids; Columbus High School, Waterloo; and Immaculate Conception School, Elma, where she was the principal in 1966-1968.
Sister Mary Ann was a chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Fairfield, Ohio, and Mercy Hospital in Hamilton, Ohio, from 1990-1991.
She worked in various business offices providing services as the business manager/office manager from 1970-1999 at Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids; Sisters of Mercy; Cedar Rapids; Life Investors Ins. Co., Cedar Rapids; Diocesan Pastoral Center, Denver, Colorado; St. Bernadette Parish, Lakewood, Colorado; and St. Patrick Parish, Fairfax, Iowa.
Upon her retirement in 1999, Sister Mary Ann volunteered at Sacred Heart Convent, Catherine McAuley Center, and the Community Health Free Clinic.
Sister Mary Ann, a vowed member of the Sisters of Mercy for 78 years, 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.