Victorine Buser

Sister Victorine (Marcella Mary) Buser, 99, passed away Monday, March 28, 2016 in Wichita, KS. She was born in Wichita, KS, March 19, 1917, the youngest of four children of Anthony F. and Catherine Schmitz Buser, and given the name Marcella Mary at baptism. Her elementary education was at the Cathedral Grade School in Wichita and she completed high school at Mt. St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison, KS. She held B.S. and M.A. degrees from Pittsburg State University with additional course work in school administration and music from De Paul University in Chicago, Creighton University in Omaha and Wichita State University.

Sister Victorine was received into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita on March 19, 1936, professing her final vows August 14, 1941. Her ministry career began as a substitute music teacher at St. Paul High School in St. Paul, KS followed by several years of orchestra and choral teaching at St. Mary of the Plains Academy in Dodge City. Until 1975 she taught at several elementary schools in the Dioceses of Wichita and Dodge City and was in administration/counseling at diocesan high schools in Pittsburg, St. Paul, Parsons, Wichita, Hutchinson, and Kansas City, KS.

In 1975 she was missioned to Kyoto, Japan where she taught English conversation and speech at Notre Dame Women’s College, Seibo Women’s Junior College in Fushimi as well as private students at the convent in Ryoanji. She also shared her music ministry, playing the organ for weddings, school events and teaching private students. Upon her return to the United States in 2004, she took up residence at Mt. St. Mary Convent until September 2015. New construction at the convent required her to move one final time, ending her days at the Wichita Center of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Francis and Clarence, and her sister, Sr. Cyril. In addition to the members of her congregation, she is survived by a number of nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends. Homecoming will be Monday, April 4, 2016 3:00 p.m., the Wake to follow at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 10:30 a.m. all at the Wichita Center of the Congregation St. Joseph with interment of the cremains to follow in Mt. St. Mary Convent Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Neighbor Ministries, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.