Sr. Dorothy Cecilia LeBlanc

Sister Dorothy Cecilia LeBlanc (formerly Sister Mary Andrew), a Sister of St. Joseph for 80 years, entered eternal life at Mt. St. Mary Convent in Wichita, KS on December 3, 2023 at the age of 97. Sr. Dorothy was born on June 26, 1926 in Baton Rouge, LA to the late Andrew Leland LeBlanc and Marie Margaret Stanley. Sr. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Andrew, Jr., Francis, and her sisters Ann Marie Conner and Theresa Terrio. Sr. Dorothy is survived by several nieces and nephews. Sr. Dorothy graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Baton Rouge, LA in 1943 and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 8, 1943. She professed final vows on August 15, 1948. Sr. Dorothy graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans with a B.S. in Education. She received a M.S. in Chemistry from Notre Dame University and a M.R.E. in Religious Education from Loyola University. Sr. Dorothy received her Clinical Pastoral Training from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Sr. Dorothy’s years of ministry and service in education began in 1945 at St. Rose of Lima School in New Orleans where she later served as Principal. Her teaching assignments included St. Joseph Academy in Bay St. Louis, St. Joseph Academy in New Orleans, St. Rita School in Harahan, St. Joseph Parochial as teacher and principal and St. Joseph Academy in Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee Catholic and Rosenwald Public High school in New Roads, LA. Sr. Dorothy’s last teaching assignment was at O’Connell High School in Galveston, Texas. Sr. Dorothy then served as staff member of Casa Esperanza Refuge for Children and Mothers in Houston, Texas. She served for six years as Senior Coordinator of Lourdes Community Center in New Orleans. For the next five years Sr. Dorothy served as caregivers for the Sisters of St. Joseph at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare in New Orleans. Following Hurricane Katrina, Sr. Dorothy moved to Wichita, Kansas to care for Sisters at Mount St. Mary, Wichita Kansas. Sr. Dorothy was a regular participant in Kairos retreats for women in prison in Louisiana and Kansas. In 2018 Sr. Dorothy retired and continued to serve by her presence and prayer ministry in Marian Hall at Mount St. Mary.

Homecoming and Rosary will be at Mt. St. Mary Resurrection Chapel on Monday, December 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. with Wake Service at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Resurrection followed by internment will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 in Resurrection Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Memorials in her name may be sent to the Congregation of St. Joseph Retirement Fund, Dear Neighbor Ministries, Inc. or StepStone Ministries, Inc. at 3700 E. Lincoln St., Wichita, KS 67218.