The Personal Memories of Sr. Anna Bittner, DW, Part 9, The Final Chapter

Sr. Anna (C) with (L-R) Sr. Mary Stiefvater, Sr. Christine Scherer and Sr.Marie Chiodo

Once John and Adam made a pipe bomb. Our summer kitchen was their workshop. When a match was lit, the bomb naturally exploded. It shattered the windows and shook the house. Thank God, no one was hurt, and that Dad was in Greece on a business trip. After the shock, John wrote a poem about the experience. Periodically he'd write poetry.

After finishing school with honors (but not in conduct), he started work in the local grocery store. His teacher saw John's potential and urged our parents to let him go on to higher education. They had to decline for two reasons: first, we could not afford the education, and second, we needed his help and the income. How my parents wished they could have sent him on to school.

In 1942, at the age of 16, the day came when John had to go into the service. He was sent to Czechoslovakia, where he was trained and worked as an aircraft mechanic, how we all missed him, especially our mom.

Once, he wrote a really sensitive and touching letter to Mom thanking her for all she did; and recognizing for the first time how hard her life had been. Mom often read this letter with tears in her eyes.

John's visits home were always a highlight, and of course, always too short. He'd bring home small presents like gum and candy. Mom would cook the best food available, and Dad would repair his uniforms, removing tape and staples. Dad often mused at John's ingenuity, and at his inability to sew. What joy and delight parents must feel when their children grow to the point of maturity, realizing that they did all they possibly could do to show their love – with their gifts, possibilities, drawbacks, and limitations.

Reflecting back on these pages, I can only marvel with gratitude at what God has done in my life. God's love and goodness are truly inexhaustible.

Covering less than a quarter of her life, this is the final chapter in The Personal Memories of Sr. Anna Bittner, DW.

Born in Semlin, Yugoslavia, to the late Adam and Anna (Koch) Bittner, Sister immigrated to California as a young girl. She learned about the Daughters of Wisdom in the book True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort and went to Hicks Street, Brooklyn, NY, to find out more. There she met the Sisters and learned about Wisdom, leading her to make profession in 1961 at age 24.

Sister died peacefully at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent in Sound Beach, NY, on August 14, 2019. To read more about her ministries as a Daughter of Wisdom of nearly 60 years visit: https://www.daughtersofwisdom.org/news-remembrances/annabittnerdw