“The Spirit of God works quietly and gently.”
– Saint Vincent de Paul
Sister Celine Kobe, 104, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL) for 85 years, died on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Born Catherine Mary on February 15, 1921, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Peter and Mary (née Mikulic) Kobe, she was one of twelve children, growing up in a blended yet close-knit family. She was baptized at St. John the Baptist Church, where she also received the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.
She grew up in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood, a community of immigrant families rich in heritage and faith. Her Croatian father and Slovenian mother instilled in their children pride in their roots, their Catholic faith, and their close church community. She often spoke of her love for Strawberry Hill and the joy of being surrounded by family, neighbors, and the way of life that shaped her faith and character.
Living near the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King, young Catherine became curious about convent life and would sometimes practice being a Sister, complete with a veil she made herself. Her father, watching her and her care for others, would say with certainty, “She’s going to be a nun one day.” His words proved prophetic.
She attended St. John the Baptist Grade School and Bishop Ward High School, graduating in 1940. During Catherine’s senior year, Mother Leo Frances Ryan, who died in August 1988, learned of her student’s interest in religious life and encouraged her to answer God’s call.
Inspired by the example of the Sisters who taught her, Catherine decided to pursue her vocation with the Sisters of Charity and entered the Community on June 24, 1940, the Feast of St. John the Baptist. On habit day, she took the name Sister Mary Celine and later chose to simplify her name to Sister Celine. Later reflecting on her vocation, Sister Celine wrote: “God was leading the way for me to arrive at where I am today—a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Mary College, Leavenworth, in 1960. At Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Topeka, Sister Celine began her ministry in education immediately following her first profession of vows. Over the next three decades, she served in schools across Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Montana, serving as both teacher and disciplinarian.
In 1976, Sister Celine transitioned to ministry at the Mother House in Leavenworth, where she coordinated arts and crafts and served as a clerk and typist. She remained devoted to service for her SCL Community, assisting in the Community Secretary’s Office until 1998.
Sister Celine moved to Ross Hall in Leavenworth in June 2017, where she continued to offer volunteer support. She later entered fully into the ministry of prayer and presence, embracing it with the same devotion that had marked all her years of ministry and service.
Her family remembers Sister Celine for her kindness and gentle spirit. They admired her not only for her long life and commitment as a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, but also for the warmth with which she welcomed them. She treasured their visits and returned their affection with gratitude and love, a bond that remained important to her throughout her lifetime.
Sister Celine was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John, Frank, Albert, Bob, Carl, and Peter; and sisters, Theresa Smith, Frances Kobe, Mary Bondi, Doris Braman, and Ann Kobe. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, extended family, and her SCL Community.
A vigil will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Ross Chapel of the Sisters of Charity Mother House in Leavenworth. A Rosary will be prayed at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Ross Chapel, with the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., also in Ross Chapel. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery on the Mother House grounds. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Retirement Fund, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.
