Anne Fink was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 5, 1899, the third in a family of seven. Her two older brothers died of diphtheria on the same day at the ages of five and six; Anne, aged three, also contracted the disease, but survived. Both parents were from Bavaria, Germany. Though poor in worldly goods, they were rich in faith, and by thrift and hard work provided well for their family's needs

After completing the grades in the local parish school, Anne took a business course and then did secretarial work in a local business firm. She was a very attractive young girl, loved fine clothes and worldly amusements, but was also very prayerful and attended Mass and parish devotions regularly.

In June, 1924, she made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada, via the Great Lakes, with a group of some 125 persons from the Twin Cities. By providential arrangement, she was booked with a girl from St. Paul as traveling companion. They met on the train enroute to Chicago, where they were to board the boat for Montreal. The two immediately struck up a close friendship and remained such the rest of their lives.

After their return home, Anne was induced by her friend from St. Paul to join the Third Order of St. Francis. They attended the monthly meetings regularly, though for Anne it meant over an hour's ride on the street car each way. It seems "Saint Granny" (as they fondly referred to St. Anne) had made a deep impression on both, and as time passed their thoughts turned toward the religious life. Having learned of our convent at Clyde through her spiritual director, Anne wrote to Mother M. Dolorosa, applied for admission, was accepted, and on February 2, 1926, the feast of Our Lord's Presentation, she entered as a postulant. Her friend was present at her investment on August 23d of the same year. After interviews with Mother M. Dolorosa and Father Lukas Etlin, she too applied for admission, and entered on Nov. 21st. feast of Mary's Presentation. When Anne made her first vows on Sept. 3, 1926 as Sister M. Magdalen DePazzi, her friend was invested with the religious habit. Thus began the religious life of Sister M. DePazzi and Sister M. DeSales.

Sister M. DePazzi was of a cheerful disposition with a lively sense of humor. From the start she loved the convent life. Her letters home expressed the highest regard for her vocation and her joy at being called to this holy place. Having been raised in the city, she knew little or nothing about farm life. Nevertheless she volunteered to help milk cows, though very fearful of them. After a trial or two it was decided she was not cut out for this kind of work, though she was generous in helping in the garden and even at times in the field. The first time she was sent with the other postulants to pick strawberries she looked around and asked where the strawberry trees were!

During the first years of her religious life Sister worked in the correspondence department, answering letters for which she was specially gifted and trained. In 1936 she was appointed Novice Mistress, and held this office for five years. In 1941 she became assistant prioress at Clyde. A year later she was asked to assume leadership of our Mundelein priory. After serving in this capacity for three years, she traveled to the southwest as Prioress of our community in Tucson, Arizona. At the expiration of her three-year term, in December, 1947, she was appointed Prioress of the Clyde community. From her previous leadership role she became a member of the General Council in 1951, also filling the difficult position of Secretary General under the tenure of Mother M. Carmelita as Prioress General. Her contribution to the whole Congregation as Secretary General was outstanding. Mother always spoke in terms of highest praise of her efficiency and fidelity, her discretion and loving kindness in the performance of this delicate and responsible task. In April 1967 she resigned the office because of failing health. After her resignation she spent a year at our Sanctuary in Tucson.

In April, 1955 Sister underwent major surgery which involved malignancy and weakened Sister's constitution. In time she developed a heart condition and arthritis, causing her to be somewhat of an invalid the last few years of her life. Her once brilliant memory also showed signs of decline.

Sister was always known for her gentle, kind and prayerful disposition and was fond of St. Paul's hymn of Charity. In her later years she was especially devoted to the Passion and the Precious Blood of Christ. She offered up the Precious Blood many times daily, for a wide range of intentions. As one can readily judge from note-books in which she had written out her favorite prayers, she lived a life of close union with God and of fervent striving for complete abandonment to His holy Will. Though quite conservative in many ways (she did not change from the long, full habit and the double collararium first adopted when we began to moderate our religious garb), she had a broad outlook on life and did much reading. Her prayer intentions included all mankind, especially those who were suffering and afflicted, the poor, the starving, and the dying. She was always a fervent, devoted adorer, charitable, affectionate and kind-hearted, much loved by the Sisters. Gratitude was also a special trait, and even in her final illness when she could hardly speak, she expressed gratitude for the smallest service

Sister's last illness was of comparatively short duration. On October 23, 1976 she peacefully answered the call of the Bridegroom to enter into His eternal rest. Sister was in the 78th year of her age, and lacked just eleven months for the celebration of her Golden Jubilee.

The Rev. Anselm Coppersmith, O.S.B., retired Abbot of Conception, celebrated her funeral Mass on the 26th, with two other Conception Fathers as concelebrants. The golden sunshine of October bathed Mount Calvary cemetery in its warm rays as she was laid to rest, reflecting the glory of the eternal light which God has promised to those who have served Him faithfully in this life. As such, Sister was well qualified, by a life of great fidelity and devotedness.