Sr. Cassian Josephine Margaret Ebenkamp

Sister Cassian (Josephine Margaret) Ebenkamp, 96, was born March 3, 1917 in Colwich, KS to Anna Marie Geris and Bernard J. Ebenkamp, and entered eternal life August 23, 2013 in Marian Hall at Mt. St. Mary Convent. The fifth child in a family of ten children, she grew up on a farm, a way of life which she described as providing well for their family. She began school in Penalosa, KS but completed elementary school in Cunningham, KS and attended high school there when the family moved. After her junior year in high school, Margaret entered Mt. St. Mary Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph, receiving the name Cassian which she kept for the remainder of her life. After her profession of vows on August 15, 1937 she was assigned to the diet kitchen in St. John’s Hospital, Iola, KS. Her 65 years of domestic service also included the diet kitchen in Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, KS, 12 years as housekeeper/cook for the Bishops of Dodge City and providing good meals and a neat house for members of the Congregation. Upon retirement, her final years at Mt. St. Mary Convent were spent in the prayer apostolate, assisting with recycling, maintaining the greeting card rack, fine handwork and being a one-person hospitality greeter to all who came into her welcoming presence.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, Ed and Lawrence, 4 sisters, Pauline Rohling, Lucy Rohling, Eleanor Rohling, Irene Ebenkamp and an infant.

In addition to her religious congregation she leaves to mourn her sisters, Mary Anna Urban of Larned, KS, Martha Strong of Pratt, sister-in-law Mary Ann Ebenkamp and numerous nieces and nephews. . Her homecoming is Sunday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m., the wake at 7:00 p.m., the Mass of Christian burial on Monday, August 26 at 10:30 a.m., at Mt. St. Mary Convent. Contributions in her name can be made to the Congregation of St. Joseph, Dear Neighbor Ministry, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.