Cummings, Sister Mary Kevin (1928-2010)
CUMMINGS, LAMB, CARPENTER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/15/2010 at 17:13:56
Sister Mary Kevin Cummings, PBVM
January 19, 1928 – November 6, 2010Sister Mary Kevin Cummings, daughter of Francis and Eula Lamb Cummings, was born Beverly Ann Cummings on January 19, 1928, in Waterloo, Iowa. She entered the Sisters of the Presentation in 1945 and professed her perpetual vows on May 3, 1951.
She received her BA from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, her MA from Dominican University (formerly Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois) and did graduate studies at Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Iowa, the University of Montana at Missoula, the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Her Presentation career, spanning fifty-eight years, took her to Waukon (1948-1951), Mason City (1951-1955 and 1970-1983), St. Columbkille, Dubuque (1957-1958), Storm Lake (1958-1962), Fairbank (1962-1965), Ryan (1965-1966), Farley (1966), Algona (1966-1968), Charles City (1968-1970), Waterloo (1983-1984), Sioux City (1984-2003), all in Iowa, and Timber Lake, South Dakota (1955-1957). Her ministries included teacher, librarian and archivist.
With her entire religious life centered on the field of education, she taught elementary and high school, CCD and RVS classes, was a TAG volunteer, worked on the RCIA team, was a volunteer hospital chaplain, helped tutor immigrants in the English language and took communion to the homebound. Sister retired to Mt. Loretto, the Mother House for her Order in Dubuque, in 2003. She, however, continued to use her archivist skills to update the community annals, and she did volunteer tutoring at the Presentation Lantern Center.
She was an accomplished writer of poetry; she enjoyed doing art work, photography and playing the autoharp and harmonica. She was always willing to share her knowledge with anyone interested in learning a new skill. Symbolizing her love of life, Sister stated recently, “When I get settled in heaven, I’m going to dance, play musical instruments, sing, paint, and do all the things I’d like to be able to do well.”
Surviving are her sister, J. Joyce Cummings Carpenter, her nieces and nephews, and the Sisters of the Presentation with whom she shared her life for sixty-five years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, F. Gene, Clair Vincent and James Francis.
Gathering and Visitation: November 10, 2010, at Mt. Loretto, 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, Iowa, from 4:00-8:00 pm with a service at 7:00 pm.
Mass of Christian Burial: November 11, 2010, at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Mt. Loretto, 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, Iowa, at 1:00 pm with Father Doug Wathier officiating.
Interment: Immediately following the funeral Mass at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Key West, Iowa, in a section reserved for the Presentation Sisters.Guardian Angel
You knew me before I knew
Myself. Guard me still.
Lead me in love back to God,
Where we’ll be home forever.Tanka by Sister Kevin Cummings, PBVM
October 1, 2005.Copyright © 2010, Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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