Sr. Rita Marie Thissen, CSJ

Sister Rita Marie Thissen (Marguerite Joan), 91, entered eternal life on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Marian Hall, Mt. St. Mary Convent, Wichita, Kansas. Sr Rita Marie was born January 14, 1934, to Cornelius and Clara Anna (Huelskamp) Thissen in Kingman, Kansas. She was the fifth child in a family of twelve children. She attended all eight years of elementary school at St. Patrick School in Kingman, Kansas. She had the privilege of crowning Mary for May crowning when she was in the 8th grade. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on January 23, 1949, and received the habit and religious name of Sister Rita Marie July 26, 1949. Her final profession was July 26, 1955. Sister Rita Marie was teacher and principal for 41 years. Her teaching experiences took her to many different places. They were: 12 schools in Kansas (9 in the Wichita Diocese and 3 in the Dodge City Diocese); 2 schools in California; 1 school in Oklahoma and 1 school in Iowa. She was also at St. Mary of the Plains College in the library, Dodge City, Kansas for 1 year. When she retired and came back to Mt. St. Mary Convent, she did many different ministries. She spent time at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, KS, Mt. Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg, KS, a year in Malawi, Africa and finally assisting at the Mount with various ministries for the sisters living at the Mount. She is preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Clara Anna; brothers: Harold, Norbert, Hank, Martin, Jerome, Fr. Donald, Br. Kevin and Robert; sisters: Esther and Mary Jane Newman. Survivors include her sister Patricia Kampling (Clancy) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Homecoming will be Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. followed by the Wake Service at 6:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. All will be at Mt. St. Mary Convent, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Dear Neighbor Ministries or the Retirement Fund for the Sisters of St. Joseph, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218