Sister Anna Marise ND 5357 PDF Download
Anna Zorzi
Nossa Senhora Aparecida Province, Canoas, RS – Brazil
Date and Place of Birth: April 12, 1937 Ivorá, Júlio de Castilhos, RS
Date and Place of Profession: February 11, 1960 Passo Fundo, RS
Date and Place of Death: December 30, 2018 Recanto Aparecida, Canoas, RS
Date and Place of Burial: December 30, 2018 Convent Cemetery, Canoas, RS
“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2
As expressed by the psalmist in Psalm 100:2, Sister Anna Marise “Served the Lord with gladness” during her life journey. Leaving this world, she can “enter the gates of heaven with hymns of praise and gratitude” carrying in her hands the good deeds she has perfomed in her dedicated service of building the Kingdom of God.
Anna is the eleventh of twelve children of Augusto and Maria Donato Zorzi. She only lived a few years with her parents since her mother died when she was only four years old and her father died when she was eleven. One year after her mother’s death she moved in with an aunt. Sister Anna Marise was very much attached to her family and helped to mediate the relationships among the members.
When she was 20 years old, Anna Marise requested to be accepted into the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame. In the request, she said that “since the age of 8 she already had the desire to become a Sister.” Her desire was granted by the community and in 1960, she made her first profession in Passo Fundo. For 42 years Sister ministered in hospitals as a nurse.
Sister Anna Marise had a good relationship with the employees and also with the patients to whom she dedicated her services. In her ministry, her face always showed a kind and affectionate smile which attracted many people.
In addition to her availability and commitment to the requirements of her ministry, she faced the day-to-day life in the hospitals with good humor. One sister reports: She was a little comical and always made us laugh. For instance, she always carried paper and a pen in her pocket so that when she heard a funny word, she could write it down. Then at mealtimes or community recreation, when she would slip her hand into her pocket, we knew that it was time for a good laugh…
Endowed with a strong character, she was direct in expressing her thoughts and desires, but her willingness to serve the community was outstanding. In Recanto Aparecida, where she was living since 2013, she liked to be involved in the liturgy or community prayer and was very devoted to the care of the chapel.
In recent years, it was her joy to welcome the visitors of the Provincial House. She welcomed everyone with affection, attentiveness and a smile on her face. This job gave her the time and the opportunity for reading, making bedspreads and towels with fuxico handcraft.
Sister Anna Marise loved the Congregation very deeply. She always showed interest in what was going on in the province and prayed for the sisters and their mission. A devotee of Our Lady, she sought to follow her example in serving God with joy.
In 2017, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With courage and determination, she faced chemotherapy and a surgery, which gave her another year of life. Sister enjoyed life and although it was not in her plans to leave this world so soon, her desire was not to be fulfilled. This year, the disease came back ever more aggressively. During the treatment, she was courageous in her struggle for life and thankful for the care received. She was always very grateful, and did not want to be a burden to the Sisters and nursing staff.
Just like the year that ends, on the early morning of December 30, Sister Anna Marise ended her mission in this world and left for her Father’s home for God called her to His Kingdom of light and peace. We thank Sister for her testimony of faith, joy and readiness.
by Dreamhost