Sister Wanda Piotrowski

Sister Wanda Piotrowski, 99, a founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, and best known for her 50 years of service at St. Alexius Medical Center, entered eternal life January 10, 2008, at a Bismarck care center. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, January 15, in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery. Visitation starts at 4:30 PM on Saturday, January 12, and continues at the monastery until the time of the funeral. A wake is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Monday, January 14, in the monastery chapel. Sister Wanda was born on March 22, 1908, to Joseph and Anna Senkowski Piotrowski. She was the 10th of 12 children and grew up in Gilman, MN. As a young girl, Sister Wanda thought sisters had wonderful lives and wanted that for herself. An outgoing, fun-loving person, Sister Wanda entered St. Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, MN, in 1925 and made monastic profession on July 11, 1927. In 1930 she was sent to St. Alexius to help temporarily in the Radiology Department and ended up spending the rest of her life in Bismarck. She often joked, "I think God writes in both straight and crooked lines, and I am an example of the crooked lines." Her life's path led from the Minnesota monastery, to North Dakota, to being a charter member of Annunciation Monastery. At St. Alexius she became a registered radiologic technologist and enjoyed the job so much she stayed in the Radiology Department for 37 years directing the department and opening a school of radiologic technology. She also was instrumental in starting the North Dakota Society of Radiologic Technologists. In 1967 Sister Wanda became assistant to the prioress at Annunciation Monastery and served in that role for six years followed by seven years as a parish visitor at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck. Then it was back to St. Alexius where she served in the pastoral care department, primarily in the surgery waiting room. Sister Wanda could lift the spirits of others with her smile and delightful personality. She visited with those waiting while their friends and family were in surgery. She comforted, laughed, sometimes cried and often prayed with them. One man in the waiting room wrote: "When she enters the room there's warmth around her and as she calmly goes from person to person she seems to glow. As she comes around to you, her warmth seems to rub off and her gentle way lets you know that she has connections with our Maker." Sister Wanda retired from St. Alexius in 1994 with a heart full of gratitude for all the opportunities she had to help others. "I could make a difference, but the people I've met through the years made a difference in my life too," she said. Sister Wanda will be remembered for the mischievous sparkle in her eyes, her sense of humor and gift of visiting. On her 75th anniversary as a sister, she said, "I've loved the work and people in my life. I've loved my life as a Benedictine sister." She is survived by a large extended family, friends and the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. Memorials may be made to Annunciation Monastery.

Sister Wanda Piotrowski

March 22, 1908 - January 10, 2008