 Dolores Strunk, ASC
“Lead, kindly light....Lead thou me on.”
John Henry Cardinal Newman
On Wednesday, March 12, 2008, Sister Dolores Strunk received God’s welcoming call to eternal life. She was 95 years of age and a professed Adorer for 76 years.
 On August 23, 1912 at St. Mark’s, Kansas, Sister Dolores was born, baptized, and given the name Dorothy. Her parents Nick and Christina (Albert) Strunk lived on a farm just east of the parish of St. Mark’s. While the family engaged in their work of farming and gardening, they were also involved in the parish activities, especially the Catholic school which all their children attended. Family prayer and service for others were part of their daily living.
Sister Dolores attended one year of high school at St. John’s Academy, Wichita, and then entered the community of Adorers on May 28, 1929. There she experienced the closing of the St. John’s Boys School which became her novitiate area since the then Wichita Province had become legally established that year.
Dolores made her first vows on July 30, 1931. Mission assignments at Angelus and Loretto, Kansas followed after she had successfully passed the County Teaching Exams at LaCrosse, Kansas and had been awarded her teaching certificate.
Dolores began summer classes at the Cathedral, an extension program of Wichita State University. In 1933 when Sacred Heart Junior College was established and accredited, she finished two years of college and then went to Mt. St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas to attain her BA degree in 1938. Later education took her to the University of Denver where she earned a BS in Library Science in 1941, and a MALS from Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois in 1965. She also did other graduate work at St. Louis University.
Sister Dolores had two years experience teaching secondary math at Okarche, Oklahoma and Windthorst, Kansas, and after that, for 57 years, it was all library work…..at Sacred Heart Junior College, Sacred Heart College, Kansas Newman, and Newman University. Seemingly a born librarian, she was always noted as an outstanding one.
To trace her accomplishments and explain what made her services so outstanding requires more words than a simple obituary allows. She began her work as librarian on first floor of Sacred Heart Hall, at one time the Alumni Lounge. In 1950 the library was moved to the former DeMattias Hall. In 1960, back to Sacred Heart Hall, third floor, then in 1964 to Ryan Hall. In each move Sister Dolores was a key person, directing the ‘how to’ process. She was not afraid of the manual work involved in moving the library three times.
In addition to her services on the college campus, Dolores had the distinct privilege of cataloguing a few thousand books for the library of Bishop Christian Winkelman. Then for a period of about ten years she gave part time library service at Friends University when NU and FU started the cooperative system of libraries.
Dolores saw not only the library, but the entire college grow from its simple beginning in 1933 through all its developmental stages to what is today Newman University. She kept on her desk the quotation that speaks of a motivation that prompted this energetic nun: “My interest is in the future because I will spend the rest of my life there.” (Charles Ketterling)
Sister Dolores, affectionately called Dotty, wore many hats: head librarian, professor of math and library science, sacristan, flower gardener, table decorator, basketball fan, a living alumni directory, joke-teller, and whatever came her way. She had a never-run-dry energy with “many miles to go before I sleep.”
Public awards came her way also: in 1986 she received the distinguished Maria De Mattias Alumni Award, and in 1991 the John Henry Cardinal Newman Award. Dolores wrote “I have witnessed the work of 35 deans and nine presidents.”
Fun was also part of this busy librarian’s life. Twice she vacationed in California with friends, and in 1981 Kansas Newman College honored her with a trip to Rome and the Holy Land.
All the above indicates a very full schedule every year, yet in her biography she wrote, “…but my religious life was not neglected.” She wrote of her retreats, spiritual direction, charismatic groups, the Life in the Spirit seminar, and the spiritual benefits of being sacristan.
In May, 1997, Sister Dolores began Living Ministry in Later Life at the Wichita Center. Health problems were slowing down this exuberant Adorer, and in a few years limited her activities. The loving care of the Adorers and Health Care personnel kept Dolores happy, living quietly and peacefully with her God, waiting to begin the joys of eternity.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her brothers Andrew and Arthur, and her sisters Pauline, Sister Melania, ASC, and Louise. She is survived by two brothers, Nick and Richard, many nieces and nephews, and the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
The body of Sister Dolores will be brought to the Wichita Center at 2:00 on Thursday, March 13, with a wake service at 7:00 that evening. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 on Friday, March 14, with Father Tom Welk as presider and homilist. Burial in the community cemetery will follow.
Dolores, your love and services for Newman University will always be remembered. Thanks for your wonderful gift to Catholic education!
Adorers of the Blood of Christ
United States March 12, 2008 |