Sister Anita Hirt
Anita Marie was born June 11, 1924, to John and Margaret (Landau) Hirt in Reeseville, Wisconsin, one of twelve children. Her first contact with the Holy Cross Sisters was at a retreat for single women at Holy Cross Convent (now Bell Tower) in Merrill. She joined the community of the Holy Cross Sisters on August 31, 1948, because “it seemed the right thing to do since they were close to my hometown of Medford, Wisconsin.” Sister made her First Profession on August 24, 1950.
Sister Anita finds community living, in spite of some difficult times, a blessing and very important to her. She ministered in the field of nursing and found that very satisfying. “Sister Lucy Mee said that I was a caring person and knew nursing would be a good fit for me,” Sister said.
Sister Anita received a registered nurse degree from St. Alexius Hospital, Bismarck, ND, and became a certified registered nurse anesthetist after studying at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, IL. Her ministry in nursing and anesthesia was at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickinson, ND, and at Holy Cross Hospital (Good Samaritan Health Center), Merrill. She has held board positions in Dickinson, Merrill, and at Memorial Hospital, Antigo, WI; and also served as president of the Bell Tower Residence Resident Council. 
Although Sister Anita is retired, she still ministers as a part-time nurse at Bell Tower Residence. It isn’t unusual to see her escorting senior sisters to the clinic or hospital.
The nurses and Sister Mary Anne Rose at Bell Tower Residence consider Sister Anita a valuable temporary employee as she ministers to residents as an RN. “She is a life saver to the nurses and residents by doing difficult blood draws. Her expertise as a nurse anesthetist is still being utilized with the blood draws. Sister Anita is a blessing to Bell Tower Residence and we are grateful to her for all she does for us nurses,” according to Sister Mary Anne.
