Sister Irene McGrath

LEAVENWORTH, KS . . . The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth mourn the loss of Sister Irene McGrath, 87, who died on Monday, April 8, 2013, in Ross Hall at the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
Mildred Eileen McGrath was born on February 3, 1926 in Greenleaf, Kansas, the fourth of seven children born to Henry J. and Mary O’Donnell McGrath. She attended Greenleaf Grade School and graduated from Capitol Catholic (Hayden) High School, Topeka, Kansas. On Sept. 1, 1944, Mildred entered the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, was given the name Sister Irene, and made her profession of vows on March 10, 1946.
For 25 years, Sister Irene was engaged in elementary education, both as a teacher and an administrator. She received a BS in Education from the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, and studied at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, MA. In 1972 she began working in religious education and pastoral ministry at St. James Parish in Liberty, Missouri before moving to Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence, Kansas, where she served as Pastoral Associate. Sister Irene was the administrator of the Ageless in the Lord Program for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, and was the Director of the Martha and Mary’s Way Program in Lawrence. She retired to the Mother House in 2004.
Survivors include her sister Mary Lou Laul, Auburn, KS; nieces, nephews, numerous friends and her SCL Community.
A vigil will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, in Ross Chapel of the Sisters of Charity Mother House in Leavenworth where friends may call after 4:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Ross Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 15. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery on the Mother House grounds. Davis Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Retirement Fund, 4200 South 4th ST, Leavenworth, KS 66048.