SAUNDERS, Sister Mary Kathleen 1909-2008

SAUNDERS, DOLAN

Posted By: K. Kittleson (email)
Date: 8/8/2008 at 14:05:19

Sister Mary Kathleen Saunders, RSM, age 98, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and formerly of Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, died on Monday, August 4, 2008, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, August 7, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, by Rev. David Ambrosy. Burial was at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Sacred Heart Chapel with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Arrangements are with Stewart Funeral Home.

Sister Mary Kathleen was born on Aug. 23, 1909, in Cumberland, Iowa the daughter of John and Mary Dolan Saunders. She entered the Sisters of Mercy Cedar Rapids Community on June 25, 1928 and professed final vows on June 23, 1934.

Sister Mary Kathleen attended Mount Mercy Academy and was a member of the first graduating class of Mount Mercy Junior College in Cedar Rapids in 1930. She furthered her education receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in elementary education at Loras College in Dubuque and a Master’s degree from St. Louis University.

Sister Kathleen spent most of her ministry as a teacher at Immaculate Conception in Charles City; St. Matthew’s, Immaculate Conception and Regis High School in Cedar Rapids; St. Matthew’s in Kalispell, Montana; Sacred Heart in Oelwein; Sacred Heart in Waterloo; and St. Joseph’s in DeWitt. In between her ministry as an educator, Sister Mary Kathleen served as the Directress of Novices at Our Lady of Mercy Novitiate in Marion and Cedar Rapids from 1953 - 1965. She retired in 1987 and resided at Sacred Heart Convent in Cedar Rapids.

In addition to the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary Kathleen is survived by a sister, Corita Saunders of Atlantic, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Mildred Saunders of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Rev. Charles, Timothy; a twin brother, Gerald; and two sisters, Josepha and Regina.

[Original obituary posted on Charles City Press online, Aug. 7, 2008]