One of 13 children, Beatrice was born February 24, 1927, eldest daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Jakubek) Gindt in Edson, Wisconsin, diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin. She entered the Congregation August 27, 1944 and was received into the novitiate, August 12, 1945, taking the religious name Zita. Later on, in 1966, she returned to her baptismal name. Sister Beatrice made her first vows August 13, 1946 and her final vows on August 13, 1952, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She attended Divine Savior Convent High School and Junior College, completing her studies in elementary education with a Bachelor of Science degree from Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her 28 years of ministry in the field of education were spent in our grade schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maryland. When reflecting on her years of teaching in Dickeyville, Wisconsin, Sister Beatrice revealed her love of nature as she recalled that "monarch butterflies would gather on the evergreen trees every fall until the trees were covered with them. Just before the first frost, the butterflies migrated to Mexico and Central America for the winter."

After 1976, Sister Beatrice served the elderly population of Milwaukee, especially our own Sisters. For 12 years she engaged the Sisters in various activities at Salvatorian Heights. The following years she was a volunteer at both St. Mary’s Nursing Home and at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus. In 2002, she was honored by the RSVP Senior Corps for her 800 hours of volunteer service during which she was recognized as "a gentle and compassionate presence to the elderly."

Sister Beatrice had a great love for gardening. While living at Salvatorian Sisters Residence (SSR), she would search for a fertile space in the courtyard or around the building where she could plant flowers or even a vegetable. Just this spring, three raised gardens were built for the Sisters who wanted to plant a vegetable garden. One of these was designated for S. Beatrice. Her love for house plants was equally great. She definitely had a "green thumb" and nurtured beautiful, healthy house plants in her room and in other areas of SSR.

Stamp collecting was another interest of Sister Beatrice. She had contacts with other stamp collectors in the Milwaukee community. She both traded and sold stamps. The money she received was sent to Brother Regis, SDS at the Mission Warehouse in New Holstein, WI.

On December 7, 2004, when Sister Beatrice was residing at our Salvatorian Sisters Residence, she had by-pass surgery following a stress test. After 19 days in intensive care and several more weeks at St. Joseph Hospital, she was transferred to the nursing home on St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus on January 28, 2005. In time, she recovered so well from her surgery that she was able to return to the Salvatorian Sisters Residence in April of 2007.

Early Friday morning, April 23, 2010, Sister Beatrice was taken to the Emergency Room at St. Joseph’s Hospital because she was hemorrhaging. While in ICU she suffered a serious heart attack. When it became obvious she would not recover, she was asked what her wishes were about continuing active treatment. Sister Beatrice decided it was time to choose the comfort measures offered through Hospice Care. The Sister sitting with her reported that she said "my heart tells me it’s time." Then she added, "I love you all." That evening she was transferred to Hospice and Sisters kept vigil day and night until April 30, 2010 when Sister Beatrice breathed her last.

She was 83 years old and professed 64 years. May she now rejoice in the presence of her Risen Savior.

Sister Beatrice is survived by her two Salvatorian Sisters, Marcella and Alice Gindt, as well as siblings, Gladys (Lawrence) Bergs, Theresa (Jerome) Hurt, Lewis and Richard Gindt; sister-in-law Edna Gindt, and many nieces & nephews and members of the Salvatorian Family.

Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Agnes Gindt; her siblings: Clarence (Ruth Ann) Gindt; Louise (George) Gilles, Rosetta (Al) Farrell, Grace (Robert) Goetz, Dorothy (Leonard) Pederson; and Ray; and sisters-in-law, Shirley & Bonnie.

Funeral Arrangements:

Visitation/Vigil: St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus, Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.     

Burial: Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 9:30 a.m., Holy Cross Cemetery, 7300 West Nash, Milwaukee, WI

Mass of Christian Burial: 1:00 p.m.