Sister Mary Dorothy Brownsberger

Sister Dorothy died November 24, 2012 in Independence, MO. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 26th, 2012 at Sisters of St. Francis with Wake Service at 7:00 p.m.; 2100 N Noland Rd., Independence. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 27th at St. Mary’s Parish, Independence. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Nevada, MO. Velma Rose Brownsberger was born December 29, 1929 in Germantown, MO to Regina Westhusing and Ted Brownsberger, the third of nine children. She left home in 8th grade to live with the sisters at St. Ludger’s Parish, Germantown in order to continue her Catholic education and then to St. Francis Academy in Nevada, MO. While a student she entered the Sisters of St. Francis and upon beginning the novitiate, took the name Sister Dorothy after her beloved father. She was professed August 13, 1937 in Nevada, MO. Sister received a Bachelors from Mount St. Scholastica and a Masters from St. Louis University. For 22 years she taught elementary school at Immaculate Conception, Lexington; St. Mary’s, Nevada; St. Francis Grade School, Nevada; St. Mary’s, Higginsville; and Mary’s Home, Eugene, MO as well as high school at St. Francis Academy. Those school assignments were linked to other responsibilities including Girl’s prefect in both the grade school and high school at Nevada and Formation responsibilities. In 1968 she was elected Sister Servant serving four years and was reelected in 1984 for a second term. She was instrumental in the sisters’ move to Independence and the establishment of the Franciscan Prayer Center where she served in hospitality and offered spiritual direction for over 20 years. Her eye and her ear for the beautiful made her a natural in preparing environment for the Center and planning the liturgy. Sister is survived by her sisters in community; brothers, Mel, Ted, and Dan Brownsberger; sisters, Lola Buckingham, Charlene Hylton, and Jeanne Stewart; numerous nieces and nephews and scores of “daughters” from St. Francis Academy. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist; 2100 N Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64050.