Zita M. Bergman, 81, of St. Benedict, Kansas, died early Friday, January 16, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

She was born March 30, 1927, on a farm east of Seneca, the daughter of Joseph H. and Clara C. Vondemkamp Phillips. She attended Victory School and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School. She moved to Omaha, Nebraska to live and work with her Aunt Anna Mulcahy. Later Zita worked in Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1946, her family moved to Dyersville, Iowa where she worked in a shirt factory until returning to Seneca in March of 1948.

On July 20, 1948, she married Melvin B. Bergman at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived in St. Benedict where Melvin had started a pool hall and bar. Melvin’s brother, Callistus, ran the family grocery store. Zita and Melvin purchased the Bergman Hy Klas store from Callistus and Florence in 1956. They operated the store until February of 1987 when they retired. Zita then worked at the Seneca Variety Store for five years.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Altar Society at the church in St. Benedict, the Nemaha County Historical Society, the Seneca Memorial Post #7548 of the VFW Auxiliary, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, and the Guild Pitch Club. Zita also served on the Richmond Township Board.

She enjoyed quilting, sewing for her family, gardening and canning. She was a kind and thoughtful friend and neighbor who was always ready to help others.

Survivors are her husband Melvin of the home; three sons, Ed, Mike, and Jerry, all of Topeka; two brothers, Fr. Walter Phillips of Seneca and Lyle Phillips of Leawood, Kansas; two sisters, Vera Knudson of Seneca and Elda Haverkamp of Wetmore; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Daniel on January 12, 2005; and three brothers, Leonard, Regis and Arthur Phillips.

Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 2 PM on Monday, January 19, at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 3:30 & 8:30 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery Fund, and sent in care of the family.