Sister Vinciana Bauer, 90, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Rochester, died Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Assisi Heights.

Esther Mary Bauer was born to Gerhard and Helen (Reining) Bauer Aug. 18, 1925, in Adrian.  She entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1944 from St. Peter Parish in Caledonia. Sister Vinciana made first vows in 1947 and perpetual vows in 1950. She received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the College of St. Teresa in Winona in 1961 and a Master of Science in elementary school administration from Winona State University in Winona in 1966.

Sister Vinciana served as an intermediate teacher at several schools in southern Minnesota including St. Augustine in Austin from 1947 to 1953, Cathedral School in Winona from 1953 to 1957, Queen of Angels in Austin from 1957 to 1958 and St. Kilian School in St. Kilian from 1958 to 1960 and from 1962 to 1970. She also served as principal and teacher at St. Gabriel in Fulda from 1971 to 1972 and St. Kilian from 1972 to 1973. In addition, she taught at St. Lawrence School in Ironton, Ohio from 1960 to 1962 and from 1970 to 1971).

Following her years of teaching, Sister Vinciana served on the staff of the Christian Community Center at Assisi Heights from 1974 to 1976 and at St. Theodore Parish in Albert Lea from 1976 to 1999, where she coordinated elementary religious education, served in pastoral ministry and as a parish volunteer until her retirement to Assisi Heights in 1999.

Sister Vinciana is survived by her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 72 years; her siblings Gordon (Wanda) Bauer, Caledonia, John (Judy) Bauer, Durand, Wisconsin, Bernice Lange of Houston, Vina Lange of Caledonia, Rita (Lee) Svehaug of Caledonia, Mary Mullen of Boise, Idaho, Mildred (Art) Robak of Waterford, Michigan, and Helen (Dave) Augedahl of Caledonia.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Vincent and Lawrence “Shorty” Bauer; and a sister, Theresa Heberlein.

A funeral liturgy will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights,  in Rochester. Friends may call at Assisi Heights for the vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and one hour before the funeral liturgy Monday.

Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Development at Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW – Suite 100, Rochester, MN  55901.