Sister Maureen Dougherty CSJ

Sister Maureen (Mary Louise) Dougherty entered eternal life April 11, 2013. The second daughter in a family of five girls and one boy, she was born September 25, 1921 in west Wichita to Raymond and Anna Ternes Dougherty. Her father was a farmer and orchardman, her mother a homemaker.

Her education from first grade through Junior College was at St. John’s Academy/Sacred Heart Junior College (now Newman University). After graduation she taught in grades one through eight in rural schools for several years, followed by a stint of employment as deputy clerk of the district court of Sedgwick County from 1943-1945. In 1945, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, at Mt. St. Mary Convent and was received into the Congregation on August 15, 1945. Her ministries in the congregation included teaching in diocesan elementary schools in Ft. Scott, Arkansas City, St. Anthony’s in Wichita and at St. Mary of the Plains Academy in Dodge City, St. Paul KS, and Odin High Schools. Her career in education concluded at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City as an Associate Professor of Business and Economics. In addition to an A.A. degree from Sacred Heart Junior College, Sr. Maureen earned a B.A. from Friends University, an M.A. from The Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.), and a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Oregon (Eugene).

In 1972 she was elected Assistant General Superior. After 1980 she became involved in Health care Administration as CEO of the hospital in Ponca City and positions in Senior Health Care in the CSJ Health System. For many years she participated on boards and committees for hospitals of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Dodge City, Wichita, Ponca City and Blackwell, OK, and Senior Services in Concordia, Georgetown Village Wichita, Catholic Care Center, and Manhattan. Her service continued after CSJ Health System was folded into Via Christi Health.

In addition to her religious family, she is survived by three sisters: Frances Frigo, Regina Drescher, and Patricia Bolte, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and many friends.

The homecoming is on Monday at 3:00 pm; the wake 7:00 pm Monday; funeral 10:30 am Tuesday, all at the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. Memorial contribution may be made to Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Neighbor Ministries.

DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.