Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • April 28, 2023 9 BY SISTER DEBORAH KENNEDY, RSM Mobile, Alabama A familiar face on the Coast and a dearly beloved resident has moved on to her heavenly home. Sister Anna Louise Bumbera, R.S.M., died to our earthly world on April 11 at Convent of Mercy in Mobile, AL, where she had been liv- ing since December 2021. Sister had moved to Mobile for surgery for a brain tumor from which she never fully recovered. Sister Anna Louise was born and raised in Gulfpor. Her family were life-long members of St. John the Evangelist Church, where Sister graduated from elementary and high school. She worked for a few years before entering the Sisters of Mercy in Louis, MO, in 1966. She once said that she was perhaps “dodging” God’s call, but in the end “God won out.” After receiving her teaching degree and certificate in Elementary Education from Maryville College in St. Louis. Sister Anna Louise taught in a number of Mercy Schools in various places: St. Louis, MO; Rio Grande City, TX; New Or- leans, LA; and Gulfport. Sister ended up spending 24 of her 56 years as a Sister of Mercy serving the people of God on the Gulf Coast. One of several of Sister Anna Louise’s ministries on the Gulf Coast was at Holy Angels Nursery in Biloxi. Here she taught both as a preschool and Kindergarten teacher. Later she became the administrator, spending a total of 8 years serving in the program. Perhaps this made up for the “dozen children” she had hoped to birth before God’s call became too strong to ignore. Sister was also blessed to teach at her home parish, St. John the Evangelist and the elementary school she attended herself. For 13 years Sister Anna Louise served at Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis as bookkeeper while she cared for her aging mother. But her last formal ministry was at Holy Family Parish in Pass Christian. When personal health issues inter- vened, Sister’s ministry became one of prayer and presence. One of her hobbies was to make gift candles for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions. And those who knew her well, remember what an avid football fan she was. A sister close to Sister Anna Louise remarked, “I witnessed God’s deepening presence to her as her health began to seriously decline and she faced more sig- nificant decisions. Her oneness with God and her loved ones who had gone before her certainly became more present to those who lovingly companioned her on her final journey.” This remembrance of a woman of God, a Sister of Mercy, and a lovely lady concludes with her own words, spoken at her Golden Jubilee in 2016: God has been with me all through my life and guiding me along the way. I am truly grateful for the continual presence of God, the Spirit and for the people of God who have been in my life…and she would say now for 79 years. AMass of Christian Burial for Sister Anna Louise will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church, Gulfport, on Friday, April 28, at 10:30 a.m. preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m. A reception will follow the service. Internment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport, after the reception. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Sister Anna Louise to: Sisters of Mercy Mission Advancement Fund In care of Convent of Mercy 101 Wimbledon Drive, W Mobile, AL 36608 or St Vincent de Paul Conference In care of St. John the Evangelist Church 2414 17th Street Gulfport, MS 39501 Obituary Sister Anna Louise Bumbera, R.S.M. Sr. Anna Louise Bumbera To include your parish and school events and activity information in “Catholic Diocese of Biloxi Bulletin Board”, email that information to: tdickson@ biloxidiocese.org .