GREAT BEND -- Sister Markita Haefling, 79, died Oct. 24, in the Dominican Sisters’ convent infirmary in Great Bend. Born Dec. 16, 1931, in Strong City, as Kathryn Haefling, Sister Markita was the daughter of the late Marion and Mary Anne Beumer Haefling. She entered the Dominican Sisters’ Community in Great Bend on Sept. 18, 1949, and pronounced her first vows on June 7, 1952. She celebrated fifty years of religious profession in 2002. Sister Markita was a teacher in elementary and secondary schools of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado from 1952 – 1993. In 1995 she began ministry in Mercy Housing in Denver, Colo., a position she held until 2004 when she accepted the position of Assistant Treasurer at the motherhouse in Great Bend. At the time of her death she was residing in the convent infirmary in Great Bend.
Sister Markita is survived by her Dominican Sisters of Peace religious community, and four sisters and two brothers: Patricia Haefling of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Valeria Campbell of Kansas City, Mo., Dorothy Cacioppo of Gladstone, Mo., Dolores Neidert of Loretto, Tenn., Joseph of Durham, N.C., and the Rev. Maurice Haefling OSB of St. Benedict Abbey, in Atchison.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28 with the Rev. Maurice Haefling OSB presiding. A Scriptural Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 27. Burial will be in the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery. Both the wake and the funeral will be held at the Dominican Sisters convent, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend. Memorials in honor of Sister Markita Haefling may be sent to: Dominican Sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus OH  43219-2098. Cremation has taken place at Sister Markita’s request. The register book will be available to visitors from 9 a.m. until the Scriptural Wake service on Thursday evening, and before the funeral service on Friday morning.
   
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 PattonRoad
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Oct. 26, 2011