Sister Mary Stephanie Kapusta, OP

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Stephanie Kapusta died March 24, 2020, at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, Ill. She was born in Benld, Ill., in 1928 to Peter and Magdalene (Koniak) Kapusta, who named her Leona. In 1951 she made profession of vows at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Sister M. Stephanie served as an elementary school teacher for 37 years, mostly in the diocese of Springfield, Ill., where she taught primary and middle grades at parochial schools in Farmersville, Springfield, Litchfield, Granite City, Morrisonville, Jerseyville, Bethalto and Decatur. She taught religious education from the Arcola Religious Education Center, 1970-1975. She taught in parochial schools in Chicago, 1978-1984: Our Lady of Grace, St. Christina, and St. John Bosco. For the 1984-1985 school year she taught at Holy Cross School, Mendota, Ill.

In 1988 she joined the staff at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Hammond, La., an innovative collaboration between the Dominican Friars of the Southern Province, the diocese of Baton Rouge, and the Springfield Dominicans.

She also ministered as librarian at St Mary-Rogers Memorial Hospital, Rogers, Ark., 1997-2006. In 2006 she retired to Sacred Heart Convent where she assisted as she was able until shortly before her death. She delighted in greeting dining room guests, expressing her welcome with a repertoire of corny jokes.

Sister M. Stephanie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Sylvan (Pete) Kapusta and her sisters Genevieve Ozanic and Sister M. Bernadine, OP, also a Springfield Dominican Sister. She is survived by sister-in-law Anne Kapusta, Springfield, her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her Dominican Sisters.