Margarita Heisserer

ORAN — Margarita Louise Heisserer, 91, of Bridgeton, Missouri, died Saturday, May 9, 2020, at Sarah Community in Bridgeton.

She was born Oct. 20, 1928, to Raymond George and Alma Catherine (Dirnberger) Heisserer at Oran Missouri. 

Her siblings included her older brother Ralph and three younger sisters Joan, Helen, and Margaret.

Margarita attended the Guardian Angel Parish grade school and completed high school at the Precious Blood Institute at Red Bud, Illinois. 

She received a Bachelor of Music (with honors) from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri and a Master of Science in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana. Further graduate work for nation and state certification purposes included courses at the University of Illinois, Loyola University in Chicago, University of Missouri at Columbia and Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana.

Margarita served the Catholic Church in the religious life as a Sister of The Adorers of the Blood of Christ from 1943 to 1980.  During that time, her professional career experiences included elementary/middle school/high school instruction of music and selected courses at the following locations: (1) St. Boniface in Evansville, Illinois; (2) Immaculate Conception in Cahokia, Illinois; (3) Immaculate Conception in Columbia, Illinois; (4) Holy Rosary in Fort Dodge, Iowa; (5) St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis, Illinois; (6) charter faculty member as teacher, librarian, and music/speech instructor at St. Pius X High School which opened September, 1959 in Festus, Missouri. 

In 1966, Margarita became the principal of St. Pius X High School, maintaining that position until summer 1979. In 1979, under the presidency of Dr. Charles J. McClain, Margarita contracted for the position of assistant vice president of academic affairs at Truman State University, formerly known as Northeast Missouri State University, in Kirksville, Missouri.  As assistant vice president, Margarita served an exciting and rewarding tenure at the university until June 30, 1992, when she retired. 

In November, 1992, she moved to St. Peters, Missouri, and lived there until December of 2016. She resided at the Sarah Community Retirement Community from then until her death.

Eucharistic Celebration will be held Monday, May 18, 2020, in the Guardian Angel Parish in Oran conducted by Randy Tochtrop. Interment will follow at the Old Guardian Angel Cemetery. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences: www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com