Sister Mary Ida Bursch

Sister Mary Ida (Regina) Bursch, 89, died on May 12, 2013, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Convent on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation is at the St. Francis Convent on Friday, May 17, from 4:00 - 8:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Saturday, May 18. Sister Mary Ida was born on August 24, 1923, near Royalton, Minn. She was the third of 10 children born to the late Joseph and Frances (Kroll) Bursch. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minn. on August 12, 1941. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1943, and final vows on August 12, 1946. She was a Franciscan Sister for 71 years. Sister Mary Ida was a quiet, gentle, unassuming person who could easily be over-looked in excitement at hand. She was generous with her time and felt privileged whenever she had the opportunity to help anyone in any way. Her favorite hobbies were caring for plants, working picture puzzles and visiting the elderly and the sick. In 1989, the Division of Children/Youth of Catholic Charities, St Cloud, named Sister Ida as their Employee of the Year. Sister Ida loved the children at the Children's Home and they loved her greatly in return. When she celebrated 60 years as a Franciscan she said, "I believe the gift of life is GREAT and I thank God for gifting me with it. I look with gratitude to the past and with hope for the future." Sister Mary Ida ministered as a laundress and housekeeper. She served in Little Falls, Breckenridge, Sauk Centre, Alexandria and St. Cloud. Sister Ida spent 40 years in her laundry ministry at the St. Cloud Children's Home. Sister Ida was preceded in death by her siblings, Peter, Sister Mary Leonette, OSF, Sophie Nelson, Theresa Walker and Rita Ligman. Survivors include sisters, Mary Wiecks, Post Falls, Idaho; Josile (Dell) Ryder, Nampa, Idaho; and Agnes Decker, Phoenix, Ariz.; brother, Jerome (Ann), Zimmerman; nieces, nephews and her Franciscan Community. Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.