Sister Lila Marie Schmidt died November 16, 2011, at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS.  She was 78 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 61 years.  She was born in Pfeifer, KS on July 4, 1933 to George and Catherine Breit Schmidt, the eighth of thirteen children, and was baptized Lila Marie.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas on September 2, 1949.  On March 19, 1950, Lila Marie received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Mary Fabian.  Later she returned to her baptismal name, Lila Marie.  She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1951 and final vows on July 5, 1954.
Sister Lila Marie served the community as cook and homemaker on several missions including the Belvidere Hospital, Belvidere, IL; Gladstone, MI; El Paso, TX; Concordia, Junction City, Kansas City, Sabetha, and Salina, KS; and Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota.  In 1977 she became a home health care provider for the elderly in Salina, KS, keeping close contact with many of their relatives in her retirement.  She retired to the Motherhouse in 1995.
Sister Lila Marie was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and five sisters.  She is survived by one sister, Patricia Perry of Salina, KS; and two brothers, Leroy and Kenneth of Salina.  A Bible Vigil Service will be held November 18, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Lucy Schneider as the eulogist.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be November 19, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with Rev. James Hoover presiding.  The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery.  Memorials for Sister Lila Marie Schmidt  may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O Box 279, Concordia, KS  66901.