Sister Mary Rose Engel, 93, died Tuesday, October 30, 2012, in the Dominican Sisters’ convent infirmary, Great Bend.

Born August 22, 1919, inNess City,Kansas, as Mary Engel, Sister Mary Rose was the daughter of the late Anton and Pauline Hertel Engel. She entered the Dominican Sisters’ Community September 28, 1934, and pronounced her first vows August 12, 1937. She celebrated seventy-five years of religious profession this year.

Sister Mary Rose ministered as a teacher in parochial elementary schools all her ministerial life 1939 – 1992. She was sometimes both teacher and principal in seven of these schools including Dubuque, Willowdale, St. Patrick Great Bend, Larned, St. Leo, St. Patrick Kingman, and St Peter Schulte – all in Kansas. When she moved to the Motherhouse in 1998 she served in many community services such as receptionist, sacristan, chauffeur for the sisters, and gardener, among others. She especially loved to care for the rose garden. She retired in 2005.

Sister Mary Rose Engel is survived by her Dominican Sisters of Peace religious community and one sister, Jane Penka of Rancho Mirage CA.

Sister Mary Rose’s body will be brought to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at 4:00 p.m., where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 2, 2012, with Rev. Reginald Urban and Rev. Francis Oroffa MSP concelebrating. A wake service will be held Thursday, November 1, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. Friends may call at the convent Thursday, November 1, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the wake service at 7:00 p.m. and Friday morning until the time of the funeral.Burial will be in the Sisters’ResurrectionCemetery. Both the wake and the funeral will be held at the convent (see chapel address above).

Memorials in honor of Sister Mary Rose may be sent to: Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus OH  43219-2098.