Sister Kathryn O’Neil

Sister Kathryn O’Neil, 94, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth for 75 years, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, in Ross Hall at the Mother House in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Kathryn Mary O’Neill was born on June 21, 1922, in Livingston, Montana, the fourth of six children of John and Clara Tuma O’Neill. She graduated from St. Mary’s Grade School and Park County High School, Livingston, Montana.

After one year of studying nursing at Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, Kansas, Kathryn entered the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on June 15, 1941, and, as Sister John Baptist made her profession of vows on December 19, 1942. She later returned to the use of her baptismal name.

After making vows, Sister Kathryn went to St. John Hospital School of Nursing in Helena, Montana, where she received her RN in 1945 and received a BSN from Saint Mary College in 1951. She worked in SCL hospitals for 25 years in varied position, including bedside nursing and administrative assignments. In 1970, she assumed responsibility as administrator of the city-county home-health agency in Butte, Montana. Sister later established a hospital-based home health/hospice agency at DePaul Hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and revamped an existing home health agency in her native Livingston. Before retiring to the Mother House in 2007, Sister Kathryn spent many years in Butte, serving seniors in many ways.

Sister Kathryn was truly articulate with her words, even until the end of her life on earth. She often spoke of her pure love and admiration of God. In her autobiography, she stated that her favorite memory was of walking and hiking in the mountains and hills along the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley, Livingston, MT. She said, “I truly loved being able to be free and to drink in the beauty of God’s creation.”

Perhaps it is this deep respect that paved the way for her immensely successful healthcare career. She was able to care for the sick and elderly while shining God’s radiance at the same time. She never took for granted the relationships she made throughout her journey. “It isn’t fun living if you don’t have someone to share life with.” With this motto, she impacted the lives of countless people. In 2004, she was honored as one of the Southwestern Montana Heroes for her volunteer work with the Senior Companion Program. In her acceptance for the award she said, “I can only do this through the great grace I’ve received from God and from all the prayer and support the community has given to me.”

Sister Kathryn was quoted many times in many articles as saying, “I am convinced there is no better way to serve the people of God, for we are meeting them on their own turf with no fringes attached – and it is in this medium the concern of God is best felt…meeting and serving people in their homes provides an excellent opportunity for bringing the message of an all-caring God.”

There is no denying that Sister Kathryn was close to her God and the people whom she served. She kept faithful to the charism of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth; “to love the poor, to love one another, to live simply, and to unite the whole of our lives in the poor and loving Christ.”
Survivors include her sister, Mrs. Marge Frelich, Livingston, Montana, nieces, nephews, and her SCL community.

A vigil was held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, in Ross Chapel of the Sisters of Charity Mother House in Leavenworth. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Ross Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Interment followed in Mount Olivet Cemetery on the Mother House grounds. Davis Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Retirement Fund, 4200 S 4th ST, Leavenworth, KS 66048.