Sister Helen Ridder died Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. She was 82 years old and had been an Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 64 years.

She was born July 20, 1935 in Derby, Kansas, to John and Agnes (Abt) Ridder, the fifth of eight children.

Helen entered the Wichita ASC community on Jan. 1, 1952, and pronounced first vows on July 1, 1953, and permanent vows on July 1, 1958.  She graduated from high school at Sacred Heart Academy in 1954. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Sacred Heart College in 1962 and graduated from Kansas State Teachers College,

Sister Teresita Kern, ASC, died Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 at the Ruma Center, Ruma, Ill. She was 93 and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 76 years.

Sister Teresita was born on June 5, 1924 in Red Bud, Illinois, one of eight children of Christian and Helen (Kelly) Kern. She made her first profession on July 1, 1941 and her final vows on July 1, 1946.

She was a member of the Dietary Managers Association and was certified in food service supervision and sanitation.

She spent 60 years in the industry,

Sister Margaret Mary Smith, who had celebrated 65 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ this spring, died Monday, October 9, 2017. She was 85.

Sister, baptized Emma Gelesta, was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the eighth of 11 children of Maurice and Evelyn (Adams) Smith.

In 1950, at the age of 18, she entered the Adorers of the Blood of Christ at St. Joseph Convent, the former Columbia Province Motherhouse. She entered the novitiate on Aug. 12, 1951, made first vows a year later, and final vows on Aug.

Sister Rita Marie Lucash, ASC, died Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, at the Ruma Center, Ruma, Ill.

She was 89 years old and was a professed member of the Adorers for 70 years.

Sister Rita Marie was born Nov. 17, 1927, in Freeburg, Ill., the third of four children of Walter and Estella (Nehring) Lucash. She made first vows on July 1, 1947 and final vows on July 1, 1952.

She worked in elementary education for 40 years as a teacher, principal and organist. Her assignments in Illinois included Immaculate Conception in Centreville,

Sister Mary Renee Kirmer died quietly Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. She was 81 and had been a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 57 years.

She was born near Spearville, Kan., on Dec. 28, 1935, the sixth child of Frank and Albina (Penka) Kirmer, and baptized at St. John the Baptist Church.

Her family later moved to Dodge City, Kan., where she played softball, tennis and basketball. She was valedictorian of her 1953 Dodge City High School graduating class, and later worked there for five years as the principal’s secretary.

Sister Marie Ann Poland, ASC died after a long illness on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Adorers’ Ruma Center in Ruma, Ill.

She was 70 years old and had been a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 17 years.

She was born March 16, 1947 in Philadelphia, the middle child of Catherine (Krach) and John Herman Poland. She entered the former Columbia Province of the Adorers on June 22, 1997, took first vows on June 10, 2000, and professed final vows on Nov. 6, 2004.

Before entering the Adorers as a 50-year-old,

Sister Valeria Cisneros, ASC died Wednesday, July 5, 2017. She was 95 and had spent nearly 78 years as a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ.

Sister Valeria was born Jan. 25, 1922, in Clovis, N.M., one of seven children born to Arnold and Victoria (Trustensky) Cisneros, and named Clara. Her mother died when Clara was 3 ½ years old, and her father, a train engine repairer and musician, remarried. Her stepmother, Maria Ateaga, nicknamed “Cuca,” taught the family Spanish. She and Arnold had two children.

Valeria attended elementary school in Waynoka,

Sister Loretta Gegen, ASC, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2017 at the Adorers’ Wichita Center in Wichita, Kan. She was 91 years old and had lived 72 years as a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ.

She was born Oct. 27, 1925 in Wichita, Kan., to Frederick and Rose (Freund) Gegen, the second of five children.

Loretta entered the Wichita ASC congregation on Sept. 5, 1943, professed first vows July 1, 1945, and her permanent vows five years later.

She taught at Catholic schools in Olmitz, Offerle and Plains, Kan., from 1945 to 1954,

Sister Clara Ternes, ASC, a former hospital executive who taught medical ethics, died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 at the Ruma (Ill.) Center. She was 88 years old and had been an Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 72 years.

Born April 28, 1928, in Wichita, Kan., she was one of seven children of Martin and Clara (Girrens) Ternes. She made her first profession on July 1, 1944 and her final vows on July 1, 1949.

Sr. Clara earned her degree in nursing from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield, Ill., in 1949 and certification as a registered nurse anesthetist from St.