Sister Borgia Sondag

Sister Borgia Sondag, age 86, a member of the Sisters of the Presentation, Fargo, died Saturday, January 6, 2007, in the Infirmary at Sacred Heart Convent. Sister Borgia (Rita Margaret) was born January 4, 1921, to Henry and Margaret Sondag in Sykeston, ND. She attended grade and high school in St. Elizabeth?s School, Sykeston, and St. James Academy, in New Rockford, ND, and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Fargo, in 1938, where she entered the Order of the Presentation Sisters in June, 1938, and received the name of Sister Borgia. On June 13, 1941, she pronounced vows of Poverty, Celibacy and Obedience. Sister Borgia made her final Profession of Vows in 1944, and celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Profession in 1991. Sister Borgia received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a Certificate of Religious Education from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota. Sister Borgia was a person of extraordinary talent and energy, as well as a desire to help and serve others whether it was teaching Vietnamese children to learn English in Valley City or teaching boys from Home on the Range in Beach to play the guitar. Sister taught grade school music and high school classes and also served as organist and choir director in Fargo, New Rockford, Langdon, and Grafton, ND. Sister Borgia worked as a Pastoral Minister and CCD Coordinator in parishes of Grafton, West Fargo, Carrington, Beach and Valley City, ND. She was program director at the Catholic Chapel at the University of North Dakota for ten years. One of her later jobs was that of Director of Historical Research of the Diocese of Fargo. In 1992, Sr. Borgia retired and moved to Mary Hall, the Infirmary at Sacred Heart Convent where she lived at the time of her death. Sister is survived by the members of her religious Community; sisters Mrs. Esther Hafner, and Mrs. Leona (Ed) Spitzer, both Valley City, and sister-in-law Eleanor Sondag, Carrington; three brothers, Sylvester Sondag, Hopkins, MN, Adrian Sondag, Garden Grove, CA, and Joseph Sondag, Manito, IL, also many nieces and nephews. Sister Borgia was preceded in death by her father, her mother, and sister, Mrs. Evelyn Fruhwirth, and brothers Ed, Magnus and Eugene Sondag. Visitation is Monday, January 8, 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. The funeral is at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel. In place of flowers, donations may be made to Presentation Sisters Foundation.