Sr. Eileen Theis

Little Falls, Minnesota............Sister Eileen (Mary Evelyn) Theis, 84, died on May 29, 2012, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Convent on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Friends may call at St. Francis Convent on Friday, June 1, from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral on June 2. Arrangements are by Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service, Little Falls. Sister Eileen was born on April 11, 1928, in Buckman, Minnesota. She was the oldest of 13 children born to the late John and Loretta (Broschofsky) Theis. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minn., on August 12, 1947. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1949, and final vows on August 12, 1952. She was a Franciscan Sister for 64 years. Sister Eileen had a mind that was eager to learn and apply her learning dutifully. She had a deep respect for people and was devoted to them through her nursing care. She loved her work in the health care field and felt both challenged and rewarded in giving over 30 years to the education of nurses. She tried to impress on them the importance of the healing touch of the nurses' hands and to know that caring for a patient is not only a job, it is an art. Sister Eileen became a registered nurse at St. Francis School of Nursing, Breckenridge, Minn.; earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wis.; a Master's Degree in health care education from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minn., and did further study at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebr., to become an instructor in natural family planning. Sister Eileen was preceded in death by siblings: Marie, Reinhard, Donald, Raymond, Lawrence and Bernard. Survivors include siblings: Helen (Willard) Hoheisel, New Prague; Cecilia Meyer, Buffalo; Marian Bleichner, Sauk Rapids; Alphonse (Irene) Hastings; Judith (Bill) Glafke, Eagle River, Alaska; Roderick (Bunny), Helix, Oreg.; nieces and nephews and her Franciscan Community. Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.