Sr. Mary Leonette Bursch

Sister Mary Leonette (Bridget) Bursch, 90, died on February 22, 2011, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Convent on Saturday, February 26 at 11 a. m. Friends may call at St. Francis Convent on Friday, February 25, from 4 - 8:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Saturday, February 26. A wake service will be held at the Convent at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 25. Bridget Bursch was born on October 8, 1920, in Royalton, Minn. She was the oldest of ten children born to Joseph and Frances (Kroll) Bursch. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on August 12, 1939, and given the religious name, Sister Mary Leonette. She made first profession on August 12, 1941, and final vows on August 12, 1944. She was a Franciscan Sister for 71 years. She ministered as a teacher of home economics, food service supervisor, and domestic. She served in Little Falls, St. Paul, Alexandria, Pine River, Duluth, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, Minn. and Milwaukee, Wis. Sister Mary Leonette was preceded in death by siblings: Peter, Sophie Nelson,Theresa Walker and Rita Ligman. Survivors include siblings: Sister Mary Ida, OSF, Little Falls; Mary Wiecks, Post Falls, Idaho.; Josile Ryder (Dell), Nampa, Idaho; Jerome (Ann), Zimmerman and Agnes Decker, Phoenix, Ariz. and her Franciscan Community. Donations to Franciscan Sisters Ministries preferred.