“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world, you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
-John 16:33
Sister Dorothy Henscheid passed away peacefully at 10:31 p.m., October 31, 2023, at Ross Hall at the age of 92. A Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 72 years, she entered religious life on August 21, 1951, and took the name Sister Mary Lois when she received her habit. She later returned to her baptismal name.
Born in Rupert, Idaho, Sister Dorothy was the eldest of the seven children of William J. and Mary K. (née Bott) Henscheid. Sister Dorothy worked with her family in her father’s small floral shop and learned to recognize God in the beauty of creation. She was very close to her family and had a large extended family, which allowed her to share church, school, and community activities with her siblings and many cousins.
Sister Dorothy first met the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth when she enrolled in Saint Mary College in 1949. In 1953, Sister took her first mission assignment to Fratt Memorial School in Billings, Montana. She taught at the elementary and high school levels for many years in Kansas, Montana, Missouri, and California. She also taught biology at Saint Mary College for a year and worked in pastoral ministry for several years before becoming the Mother House assistant director of campus and then the director of campus. She then earned degrees from Saint Mary College and Humboldt State University, with additional studies at Carroll College, Madonna College, Denver University, the University of Indiana, and the University of Notre Dame.
Preceding Sister Dorothy in death were her parents; sisters, Angeline King and Mary Borrowman; and brother, Leo Joseph Henscheid. Survivors include her sisters, Sister Kathleen Marie Henscheid, SCL, Debora (Richard) Povlsen, and Katherine (Gary) Maxson; nieces and nephews; and the SCL Community.
Due to health concerns, only Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and immediate family will be present for the vigil and funeral. The vigil service will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Ross Chapel, SCL Mother House, Leavenworth. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated in Ross Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Interment followed in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Mother House grounds. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.
Click HERE to view a short video celebrating the life of Sister Dorothy.
3 Responses
Is this the Sister Dorothy who taught at Bishop Ward in KCK during the early 1960s?
My Thoughts and Prayers for YOU and family on the death of Sister Dorothy Much Love Sister ~~~ Janet Hiebl KCMO
No, that was another Sr. Dorothy.
I believe Sr. Dorothy Henscheid would have still gone by the name Sr. Mary Lois in the early 60’s. She was my second grade teacher at St. Peter’s Cathedral School, Kansas City, Kansas, 1956-1957. I drove her from the Mother House in Leavenworth to Kansas City, Kansas
in 2013 for our 50th graduation anniversary.