Sister Sylvia Winterscheidt died February 9 at NCK Medical Center in Concordia, KS. She was 92 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 72 years. She was born in Mercier, KS on September 9, 1932 to Henry and Mary Burkart Winterscheidt, the youngest of twelve children, and was baptized Loretta Marie. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas on September 8, 1951. On March 18, 1952, Loretta received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Sylvia. She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1953 and final vows on March 19, 1956.
Sister Sylvia received an AB degree in English from Marymount College in 1964. She taught in Chicago, IL; Manhattan, KS; Grand Island, NE; Seguin, Gorham, St. Peter, Leawood, KS; and Sidney, NE. She earned an MA in American Literature from Kansas State University in 1976 followed by an MA in Pastoral Ministry from Creighton University. After leaving teaching she did pastoral ministry work in Sidney and Grand Island, NE. She studied psychosynthesis at the Jungian Institute in Switzerland. She used that in her work when she moved to Concordia to become a staff member at Manna House of Prayer. Sister Sylvia retired to the Motherhouse in 2011
Sister Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers and five sisters.
A Bible Vigil Service will be held February 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Jean Rosemarynoski as the eulogist.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be February 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with Father Barry Brinkman presiding.
The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Chaput-Buoy Mortuary, 325 W. 6th St., Concordia, KS is in charge of arrangements. Memorials for Sister Sylvia Winterscheidt may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O. Box 279, Concordia, KS 66901.
