Margarita Heisserer

ORAN, Mo. -- Margarita Louise Heisserer passed away Saturday, May 9, 2020.

She was born Oct. 20, 1928, to Raymond George and Alma Catherine Dirnberger Heisserer in Oran.

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

Margarita attended the Guardian Angel Parish grade school in Oran and completed high school at Precious Blood Institute in Red Bud, Illinois. She received a bachelor's degree in music, with honors, from Fontbonne College in St. Louis 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 University of Illinois, Loyola University in Chicago, University of Missouri in Columbia and Notre Dame University in 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: St. Boniface in Evansville, Illinois; Immaculate Conception in Cahokia, Illinois; Immaculate Conception in Columbia, Illinois; Holy Rosary in Fort Dodge, Iowa; St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis, Illinois; charter faculty member as teacher, librarian and music/speech instructor at St. Pius X High School, which opened in September 1959 in Festus, Missouri.

In 1966, Margarita became the principal of St. Pius X High School, maintaining that position until the 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 2016. She resided at the Sarah Community Retirement Community from then until her death.

A Eucharistic celebration will be held Monday at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran, with the Rev. Randy Tochtrop officiating. Interment will follow at Old Guardian Angel Cemetery.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.