In Memoriam

’40s
Patricia Pixley, C’47, died on Dec. 22, 2024. She pursued a brief career in journalism until she married Warren Pixley in 1949. She served at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Claremore, Oklahoma, and worked in the Altar Society. She also volunteered for about 40 years with the Claremore Regional Hospital Auxiliary and Claremore Meals on Wheels.

Sister Mary O’Rourke, C’47, died on Feb. 10, 2025. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 78 years. Her early missions included teaching for two years at Girls Central High School in Butte, Montana, and another 12 years at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas. During her summers, she pursued a master’s degree at Saint Mary College as well as a master’s and doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. Following her doctorate work, Sister Mary became a chemistry and physical science professor at Saint Mary College, where she taught for 30 years. She ministered as an educator in the federal and state penitentiaries in the Leavenworth area and conducted communion services in the Lansing Correctional Facility.

Sister Mary Rita Winter, C’47, died on Oct. 28, 2024. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 78 years. Sister Mary Rita had fond memories of all her ministry experiences, writing, “Not many have had my blessings – teacher, cook, chaplain, parish associate, parish administrator, Carroll College Women’s Dorm Assistant, and St. Vincent Home for Boys. Ever so blessed. Ever so grateful.”

Mary Firko, C’48, died on Oct. 11, 2024. She was a longtime member of St. Jude Church in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and loved her time running the church store. She also enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rosemary Fladung, C’48, died on March 18, 2025. She was involved in gardening, Boy Scouts, Queens Players, Dinner Club, Catholic parishes, Saddle and Sirloin Country Club, volunteering for hospitals, schools, Catholic charity thrift stores, politics, and engineering professional groups. Rosemary was a den mother for scouts for five years and helped with the Camp Fire Girls.

Geraldine Huerter, C’48, died on Jan. 28, 2025. She practiced as a nurse at the Seneca Hospital, Providence Hospital, and for 27 years at North Kansas City Hospital. She was involved at St. Patrick’s Church, attending daily Mass and often daily breakfast with her friends. She volunteered at St. Patrick’s School and Church, the Altar and Rosary Society, Don Bosco Center, Bishop Sullivan Center, and was an auxiliary member of Our Lady of Mercy Country Home. Her long membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernian Society kept her Irish heritage alive and guaranteed her a spot on the trolley at the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade every March.

Margaret Lenahan, C’49, died on Oct. 28, 2024. She was a pioneer by developing and working as the head of the Virology Laboratory at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she devoted her entire career. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tonganoxie, Kansas.

’50s
Kitty Bronec, C’50, died on Dec. 6, 2024. She was a teacher for 24 years in schools staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. This included assignments in Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Laramie, Kansas City, Prairie Village, and Leavenworth, Kansas. She also taught at San Antonio Junior College and Saint Mary College. She helped establish an adult education center in Leavenworth, Saint Mary Outfront, before retiring from teaching
in 1998.

Ella Moore, C’50, died on Oct. 8, 2024. She always spoke very dearly of her time at Saint Mary and remained close to her small graduating class for most of their lives. Lu worked outside the home some while her children were young. She took in ironing and worked for Drillers Equipment. After many years in the oilfield business, Lu and her husband, Veryl, began VEM Oil and Gas together. The couple enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states and over 85 countries. Over the last 15 years, they spent over 800 days at sea as avid cruisers.

Doreen Strizic, C’50, died on Dec. 18, 2024. She enjoyed dancing, gambling, barbecues, and fishing. Wise River, Montana, became a special place for her family with the purchase of their cabin in 1970. Doreen continued the Wise River memories, especially mushroom picking in Vipond Park. She showed the grandkids her secret mushroom lines and even filled her gunny sack a few months before she passed.

Diane Welch, C’50, died on Dec. 4, 2024. She became a preschool teacher and taught until she was 80 years old. She loved to be around children, holding an annual 4th of July block party with a parade down the middle of the street.

Sister Mary Denise Sternitzke, C’51, died on Jan. 26, 2025. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 79 years. Sister served in the classroom for five decades – six years as an elementary teacher, 38 across several high schools, and 12 at Saint Mary College. She particularly enjoyed working with teenagers and had a talent for teaching mathematics to those fearful of the discipline. She made it her mission to interest more women in this field. She specialized in geometry for her master’s degree earned at Notre Dame University. Sister continued her studies as the recipient of several National Science Foundation grants.

Mary Alice Passman Murphy, C’52, died on Feb. 19, 2025. Mary Alice worked as a secretary in various companies, then was employed by Congressman, and later, Governor William Avery, Congressman Larry Winn, and then White House Presidential Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler. She served on the boards of St. Francis Hospital, Topeka Symphony, and Washburn Alumni Association.

Mary Siman, C’52, died on March 2, 2025. She was a resident of McAlester, Oklahoma.

Sister Mary Jo Downey, C’54, died on Nov. 23, 2024. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 70 years. Her love and concern for all people and her many gifts allowed her to serve in various ministries over the years. She began at Bishop Ward High School, teaching physical education and biology. She later taught at Immaculata High School in Leavenworth and Butte Central High School in Montana. From 1972-1983, Sister Mary Jo ministered in parishes and adult education centers.

Sister Rosalie Curtin, C’55, died on March 18, 2025. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 75 years. Her post-graduate academic work included numerous opportunities for continuing her adult faith formation and theological studies through workshops, conferences, and additional coursework. Sister Rosalie was a teacher at heart and served as a teacher and principal in elementary schools across Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Montana.

Sister Mary Carlo Colibraro, C’56, died on Oct. 5, 2024. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 71 years. She spent many years teaching in Kansas and Montana. In 1977, after a sabbatical in Denver, Sister Mary Carlo became a hospital chaplain, working at Saint Joseph Hospital for 10 years. In 1988, she was able to care for her mother while ministering as a pastoral associate at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in her hometown of Casper, Wyoming.

Sister Leitia Lenherr, C’56, died on Nov. 29, 2024. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 72 years. Sister taught for nearly two decades in elementary schools across Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming. In the mid-1970s, her ministry shifted to full-time parish work throughout the West and Midwest. She was devoted to her 14-year ministry at St. Matthew’s Parish in Gillette, Wyoming, where she cared for the sick and elderly and taught and facilitated parish groups.

’60s
Patricia Gleason, C’60, died on Jan. 21, 2025. She taught in Butte, Montana, for most of her career at St. Lawrence O’Toole in Walkerville, Whittier, and North Central Junior High. She had a passion for all animals and worked for many years on the Spay and Neuter Taskforce in Butte.

Kathryn Godsill, C’60, died on Feb. 13, 2025. A dietetic internship at St. Mary’s Hospital brought her to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1960. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver from 1963–69 and then returned to Minnesota to work at the Mayo Clinic as a clinical dietitian. In 1972, she became the consulting dietitian at Samaritan Bethany Nursing Homes and served in that position for 36 years. Katie was also an instructor at the Rochester Area Vo-Tech Institute, teaching a Nutrition and Food Safety course for school lunch workers from 1985-87.

Jackie Chaet, C’61, died on June 11, 2025. She graduated from x-ray technology school in 1961. In December 1965, she met her husband, Jack, while working at the Climax Mine in Leadville, Colorado. Through adoption proceedings they welcomed their son, Brian, to their family in 1967 and their daughter, Jennifer, in 1969.

Alice Mary Higgins, C’61, died on Nov. 27, 2024. She married David J. Higgins in 1960, and they had four sons and a daughter.

Marion Kelsey, C’63, died on July 29, 2025. At her first Saint Mary fall mixer, she met Darrel Kelsey, a senior at St. Benedict in Atchison, Kansas, and they wed in 1962. Marion was a gifted writer and photographer for the Junior League’s Gusher publication. She received many honors for her volunteer service with the Junior League.

Carol Hinds, C’64, died on Feb. 5, 2025. She went on to earn a PhD in English Literature in 1983 at the University of Virginia. She worked as a professor of English and academic administrator at Saint Mary College. In 1995, she became the provost and executive vice president of Mount St. Mary’s University and held that role until she returned to teaching in 2005.

Sister Ann Loosen, C’65, died on Jan. 21, 2025. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 74 years. She was a leader in Catholic health care, serving in hospitals across California, Colorado, and Kansas. Over her 54-year career, she held numerous leadership positions, including president and CEO of St. Francis Health Center in Topeka, Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, and Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth. Her tenure included significant advancements in hospital administration, leadership development, and patient care as she established personnel departments, mentored health care leaders, and advocated for patients. She was also instrumental in the founding of the Marian Clinic in Topeka, which provided essential health care services to uninsured and underinsured individuals.

Sister Mary Ann Bartolac, C’66, died on Nov. 21, 2024. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 72 years. She taught in schools in Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri from 1954-1967. In the fall of 1967, she became a principal, serving at St. Joseph School in Grand Junction, Colorado, and then at St. John the Evangelist School in Lawrence, Kansas. Later, she began ministering as a marriage case advocate for some parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Cheryl Mize, C’67, died on Sept. 9, 2025. In 1967, she married John H. Mize, and they shared 56 years together before his passing in 2023.

Connie K. Scott, C’68, died on Sept. 17, 2025. She worked as a medical technologist for more than 42 years at the VA Medical Center. She was also deeply dedicated to giving back, volunteering as a docent at the Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum, earning her 1,000 hours pin over 10 years.

Sister Mary Rosaleen Driscoll, C’69, died on Oct. 11, 2024. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 77 years. For most of her ministerial life, she specialized in pediatric and obstetric nursing. The last 30 years of her active ministry, Sister served at Marian Clinic, which provided medical and dental services to low-income families in Topeka. Her many years of nursing prepared Sister Mary Rosaleen for this direct service with those in need, meeting individuals in the same loving and caring manner as she did in the hospitals. In this new healing ministry, she became known as the “Mother Teresa” of Topeka.

Mary Elizabeth Krick, C’69, died on Oct. 23, 2024. She attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota in the Physics Department, where she met her husband, Tom. After the births of their daughters, Mary continued her academic career by studying computer science. As the girls grew older, Mary transitioned from volunteer work to paid work in computers. While she often did general IT work, her specialty was databases. Mary worked at the Newman Center Parish and at Cretin-Derham Hall High School. She then returned to the University of Minnesota as a database specialist and grant manager.

Laura Caulfield, C’69, died on Oct. 17, 2025. After marrying John Caulfield and starting a family, she devoted her life to being a loving wife, mother, daughter, friend, and volunteer. A founding and active member of the Church of the Nativity, she found deep joy in her faith community. Laura was an avid reader and an enthusiastic bridge player. She also had a beautiful singing voice, which she shared often with her family and friends.

Judy McGuire, C’69, died on May 1, 2025. She worked at Creighton University, where she met her husband, Tim McGuire. They raised two sons, Jimmy and Colin. Judy’s heart expanded even further when Jimmy was diagnosed with a developmental disorder. She became a tireless advocate for those with special needs. She led “Honey Sunday” fundraisers, cheerfully knocking on doors and rallying others to the cause.

’70s
Charmaine Martin, C’70, died on Oct. 3, 2025. She taught at Old Mill Elementary school in Addison, Illinois; Pied Piper Pre-School in Walnut Creek, California; and Glenwood Elementary School in Thousand Oaks, California. She was a member and past treasurer of her local DKG, a society of professional women educators and was a longtime Theatre Angel donor, supporting the Young Artists Ensemble of the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley.

LaVonne Boetel, C’71, died on July 13, 2025. She met her husband, Gordon K.N. Boetel, while she was at Saint Mary and he was serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Leavenworth. LaVonne devoted herself to raising her sons, staying home with them through their early years. She later began working at Kansas State University, serving as an administrative assistant in both the College of Agriculture and the Department of Extended Family Services, where she worked for 26 years.

Dr. Eileen C. Burke-Sullivan, C’71, died on Nov. 30, 2024. She completed a Master’s in Voice at the University of Colorado (1976), a Master’s in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University (1984), and a Licentiate and Doctorate at Weston Jesuit School of Theology (2000, 2003). After completing her degree in Christian Spirituality in 1984, Eileen began teaching graduate-level theology courses in the Master of Christian Spirituality Program. She taught in that summer program for the following 40 years and later became its first lay director. After completing her doctorate, she joined the full-time faculty of the Creighton University Theology Department in 2003.

Linda Walter, C’71, died on July 1, 2025. She lived in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Sister Joy Duff, C’73, died on Jan. 30, 2025. She was a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 57 years. A dedicated nurse, working at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, she encountered the SCLs and eventually joined the community. She served in hospitals and home health care programs across California, Kansas, Montana, and Wyoming. After she retired and before she returned to the Mother House, Sister Joy remained committed to serving others, bringing communion to patients and offering spiritual comfort in their time of need as a pastoral minister and chaplain.

Theresa Petr, C’74, died on March 22, 2025. She was employed at Fleischer Manufacturing for many years, then Columbus Irrigation, and spent 10 years at Loup Power District until retiring. Photography was always her passion. She used this skill at work, producing publications at Fleischer and Loup.

’80s
Sue Suwalsky, C’89, died on May 9, 2025. She was a sociology major, with a focus on aging, and joked that she was getting a degree so that “she could counsel her peers.” Sue loved the Sisters of Charity and their work. She sewed, making every special occasion outfit in her girls’ youthful wardrobes and enjoyed playing the piano.

’20s
Osvaldo Daniel Reyes, U’22, died on July 7, 2025. Daniel was a member of the men’s soccer team during his time at Saint Mary. He brought passion, grit, and joy to the field. His energy was contagious, his loyalty unmatched, and his presence left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege to know him.