Sister Cecilia Bush

Bush, Sister Cecilia (Mary Winifred), 99, was born on September 30, 1912, on a farm near Bertrand, MO and entered eternal life July 15, 2012 in Marian Hall at the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph.

Mary Winifred Bush was the sixth child born to Mary Martha (Brown) and Donald J. Bush. The family moved to Kansas City where her elementary education was at St. Thomas School where she was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. After three years at Bishop Ward High School she entered the Congregation of St. Joseph on March 19, 1929 where received the religious name Sr. Mary Cecilia. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Marymount College in Salina, a Masters from Creighton, a Doctorate from Fordham and did post-doctorate studies at the University of London. An educator and administrator all her professional life, Sr. Cecilia taught in Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Kingman, Wichita, Danville, Parsons, and Dodge City. Following her doctoral studies she became Academic Dean at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City and was President of the college from 1960-1971. During her tenure as president she was instrumental in obtaining accreditation for the College from the Kansas State Department, the North Central Association and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

From 1972 to 1975, she worked in public relations and planning at Coordinated Services for the CSJ hospitals, and then took on responsibility as director of planning for the congregation and four of its hospitals. In 1984 until 1988 she was editor of The Catholic Advance, the official newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita. Upon retirement in 1988 she continued being active as a writer, serving as mentor for seminarians, and playing the organ for services at Mt. St. Mary Convent.

In addition to members of her religious community, she is survived by her nieces, Jean Faraci, Mary Poterbin, Louise Niermann, Diane Sadecki, Donna Scherzer, one nephew, Joe Hoffmann and sister-in-law, Maxine Bush.

Viewing at Devorss Flanagan-Hunt, Thursday, July 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wake service, Friday, July 20, 7:00 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, July 21, 10 a.m. both at All Saints Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Mary Cemetery at the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Neighbor Ministries, Inc., 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. Devorss-Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary.