Anna Adelaide Lickteig was born on a farm near Scipio, Kansas, Nov. 11, 1897. Reared in an atmosphere of piety, two of the ten children of the family became Carmelite priests and two, Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. In her early years, Anna attended the local parochial school, taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Paola. While still very young, she made up her mind that she would join their community as soon as she reached the required age. When Anna was eleven, the family moved to a farm in Iowa, where there was no parish school. So she and her sister Mary were sent to Conception Abbey in Missouri to prepare for their first Holy Communion. Father Placid, their instructor, told them about the Benedictine Convent nearby where the Sisters were dedicated to the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Mary felt drawn to this vocation and decided this would be the convent of her choice.

Having in due course obtained the permission of their parents, the two girls set out together on a day in December, 1905 - Mary to enter as a postulant at Clyde, and Anna at Paola. When they reached Clyde where their ways were to part, Anna decided to remain a few days to see what life was like there. She received permission to join the postulants in all their activities, and after a few days decided that she too would remain at Clyde.

The two young women were invested with the Benedictine habit on July 14, 1906, and made profession of vows on September 29, 1907 - receiving the names of Sister M. Anastasia and Sister M. Florentine. Both were assigned work in the printery- the one as a type-setter and the other to operate the press.

After five years, Sister M. Anastasia was removed from the printery and assigned to the study of music, which she found quite difficult. Her strong alto voice lent firm support to the choir. In due time she mastered the organ and for fourteen years took her turn playing for chapel services. She also taught the postulants and novices to sing for the Divine services. At the same time she had charge of the laundry, the plumbing and floor maintenance.

 Being a strong, hard-working person, exact in everything she did, she expected the same of those under her charge, and she did not hesitate to give a correction when needed. She was always noted for her straightforward attitude, but later in life felt compunction for having been too severe at times. As sister's schedule became too heavy she relinquished the organ playing but still continued to sing with the choir.

After the opening of our priory in Kansas City in 1945, Sister spent several years there, then returned to Clyde and continued her usual work. In 1954 she was transferred to Mundelein and was a member of that community until 1968, working in the altar bread department. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee in September, 1957 at Clyde with Sister M. Florentine and another companion, then returned to Mundelein, where she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1967. The following year she was transferred back to Clyde. By this time her health and strength had declined considerably and she had to content herself with lighter work in the craft room, where she produced many useful articles. She could not tolerate remaining idle, and filled in her spare time with clipping canceled stamps from envelopes.

In August, 1974, Sister fractured her hip and was hospitalized in Maryville for nearly two months. Recuperating gradually, she was able to get about with a walker, when unfortunately she sustained a second fracture of the same hip in November 1975. In December, 1975, Sister was transferred to the new central infirmary in St. Louis. Gradually she was able to get around with a walker and became an active member of that small group, often entertaining them during recreation with her harmonica and reminiscences of early years in the convent.

On Saturday, August 6th, feast of the Transfiguration, Sister participated in the somewhat lengthy liturgical celebration of Sister M. Connie Naber’s perpetual vows. She spent the day as usual and joined the Sisters at recreation in the infirmary in the evening. Early the next morning when she failed to appear at the breakfast table, one of the nurses' aides went to ascertain the reason, and found her lying dead on her bed. The words of the Gospel at the Eucharist the next morning (Sunday) rang true with forceful impact: "The Son of Man will come when you least expect Him." After the joyous celebration of the liturgy on Tuesday morning, Sister's remains were taken to Clyde for burial. Many of her relatives kept wake that evening, and assisted at her burial service the next day.

Sister M. Anastasia always cherished the Eucharistic liturgy and the Divine Office, and was ever a faithful, sacrificial adorer. She had special devotion to the Precious Blood, and during her last weeks of illness, was grateful to have another Sister pray the Litany of the Precious Blood with her daily during the month of July. After the Litany and offering of the Precious Blood to the Heavenly Father, with the usual intentions: "In satisfaction for my sins, for the wants of Holy Church and for the relief of the souls in purgatory," Sister would add: "especially for the souls of my priest-brothers, and for the souls of priests in purgatory." She and her companion would then ask Jesus to plunge into the saving Ocean of Mercy - His Precious Blood - "all my senses, to cleanse and sanctify them; to purify and make atonement for any faults I have committed throughout my whole life..." Truly a beautiful preparation for death which came with the suddenness foretold in the Gospel. May the Divine Reaper find us all equally prepared.