Sister Lillian Stecklein, an Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 74 years, died Aug. 23, 2015, in Wichita, Kan. She was 91.
Sister Lillian, baptized Katherine Louise, was the seventh of 10 children born to Andrew and Rose (Dinges) Stecklein. She grew up on a farm near Ness City, Kan., and attended the public school there until the family moved to town. She was then able to attend Sacred Heart parish school for her eighth grade.
After starting high school in Ness City, she decided to join the ASC community. She entered the Adorers’ novitiate on Aug. 10, 1940, made her first vows on Aug. 10, 1941, and final vows on Aug. 11, 1946.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Sacred Heart College (now Newman University) in Wichita and her master’s, also in education, at Emporia State Teachers College.
Sister Lillian loved teaching the young children, serving more than 40 years in schools in Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. She was delighted to teach children of her former students. She also served as a parish minister in Oklahoma for several years and was a resource teacher for primary grades for 11 years.
Sr. Lillian retired to the Wichita Center in 2000 and began Living Mission in Later Life. She never lost her pleasant manner and her willingness to give gracious, loving smiles and warm hugs.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Edgar, Paul, Frank, Helen, Ida, Marvin, Frieda, and Lillian. She is survived by her sister Lenora; brother-in-law Gilbert, husband of Lillian; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her ASC community members.
A blessing of the body and wake service was held on Wed., Aug. 26. Sr. Lillian was buried on Thursday, Aug. 27, in the community cemetery in Wichita, following the funeral Mass, celebrated by Father Tom Welk, CPPS.