Katherine Sturlich was the first of four daughters born to Joseph and Mary Sturlich on March 25, 1916, in Kansas City, Kan. Three other sisters (Ann, Agnes and Mary) were also born into the Sturlich family. Their mother died when Katherine was 9 years old. Katherine (or “Katie”) helped her father raise his daughters. Mr. Sturlich worked at one of the large meat packing houses in Kansas City, Kan., so Katherine was in charge when their dad was at work.
When Katherine was 10 years old and in the 4th grade, she began thinking about the life of a Sister. The Franciscan Sisters attracted her strongly, and when she was 16 she told her family that she wished to enter the convent. At this news, her family begged her to wait a while longer; perhaps she still needed to “mother” her sisters for just a few more years.
In the meantime Katie went to work in the home of Dr. Rettenmaier and his family. The family consisted of Dr. Rettenmaier, his wife, three sons and a daughter. Dr. Rettenmaier was a very well-known respected Catholic physician who practiced in Kansas City, Kan. Their home became her “second” home. For while she prepared meals for them, she shared their table as a member of their family. She assisted with the children daily, and when the parents were away or would travel, she was given the total care and responsibility for them as a substitute mother. It was undoubtedly through Dr. Rettenmaier and his work that Katie became acquainted with the Ursuline Sisters of Paola.
Katherine entered the Ursuline Sisters of Paola on September 6, 1946. She was involved in community service in countless ways. She helped clean, worked in the big laundry, and was in charge of the dining room for the girls in the Academy and Junior College. Soon she was in charge of serving meals to the chaplain, as well as cleaning his house. In 1953 Sister Virginia became the Infirmarian for the girls in the college and academy, the friendship of some carrying over after the merger of the Ursulines of Paola with the Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph. Often Sister Virginia was called on to assist with Ursuline Sisters who were sick. In 1971, Sister Virginia started working at Lakemary Center (where many of the Paola Ursulines worked.) She had the job of a night nurse aide from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., along with doing laundry of the children. Her care mainly was for any of the 32 children whose home away from home was one of Lakemary’s residential buildings. She did this for seven years. In 1978 she again did community service at the Motherhouse. After many years she retired at the Motherhouse in Paola.
When the two communities merged, Sister Virginia came to Mount Saint Joseph on June l, 2009. She was in a good spirits — and the caregivers joked with her about many things. However, early in 2012 her health steadily declined. She died just before midnight on May 9, 2012. The funeral Mass was May 14, 2012, celebrated by Rev. Ray Goetz, chaplain. Sisters’ remains are buried in the convent cemetery.