Sr. Josephine O'Gorman

O’Gorman, Sister Josephine, 86, Sister Josephine was born July 25, 1931 in Tulamore, County Meath, Ireland and entered eternal life on September 21, 2017. The oldest child of John and Mary Howard O’Gorman she was educated in the elementary National School in Tallow and Assumption High School in Ireland. At the age of 16 she left her family home in Ireland to join the Sisters of St. Joseph in Wichita, KS, receiving the habit on March 19, 1948, making her final profession July 26, 1953. Her education continued at Sacred Heart Junior College, Friends University, Ft. Hays State University and completed with a B.S. in Ed. at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS. While beginning her ministry as a housekeeper for two years, she quickly moved on teaching where she served schools in the Diocese of Wichita and Dodge City in Hoisington, Iola, Pratt, Coffeyville, Derby, Kingman and Wichita.

In 1985 she began working in pastoral ministry at St. Teresa Parish in Hutchinson, KS working with adult education and the parish RCIA program. She continued this ministry after moving to Danville, KS working in the combined parishes of Danville/Harper/Anthony where she formed study groups, directed the RCIA process, and visited the elderly in the parishes. She followed this with a move to Ponca City, OK to serve as chaplain in Westminster Village in 1997.

Sr. Josephine never truly retired. Upon returning to Mt. St. Mary’s in Wichita, she began volunteering by organizing Bible Study groups, supporting the CSJ Associate program, providing prayerful support and guidance for clients and staff of Dear Neighbor Ministries and Stepstone as well as helping with fund raising activities. Her grace and hospitality to visitors of the convent and the CSJ sponsored ministries will long be remembered by those who met her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Frank, and Mortimer O’Gorman, sisters Phyllis Donlon and Rosie O’Farrell. In addition to members of her religious community, she is survived by brothers John and Bernard as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Homecoming will be Tuesday, September 26, at 3:00 p.m. followed by the wake service at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. all at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Dear Neighbor Ministries, Inc. and/or StepStone 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.

Arrangements under the direction of Devorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary, Wichita, KS.