M. Stephanie Kapusta, 91

Posted

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Stephanie Kapusta, 91, died on March 24, 2020, at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, no visitation or Funeral Mass is planned. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Convent at a later date. Private burial services were held at Calvary Cemetery on Thursday, March 26. Butler Funeral Home in Springfield is assisting with arrangements.

Sister Kapusta was born in Benld, on Aug. 7, 1928, to Peter and Magdalene (Koniak) Kapusta, who named her Leona. In 1951, she made her profession of vows at Sacred Heart Convent.

Sister Kapusta served as an elementary school teacher for 37 years, mostly in the diocese of Springfield, where she taught primary and middle grades at parochial schools in Farmersville, Morrisonville,   Litchfield, Springfield, Granite City, Jerseyville, Bethalto and Decatur.

She taught religious education at the Arcola Religious Education Center from 1970 to 1975. From 1978 to 1984, she taught in parochial schools in Chicago, at Our Lady of Grace, St. Christina, and St. John Bosco, and at Holy Cross School in Mendota from 1984 to 1985.

In 1988, she joined the staff at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond, LA., an innovative collaboration between the Dominican Friars of the Southern Province, the diocese of Baton Rouge and the Springfield Dominicans.

Sister Kapusta also ministered as a librarian at St Mary-Rogers Memorial Hospital, Rogers in Arkansas from 1997 to 2006. In 2006, she retired to Sacred Heart Convent where she assisted as she was able until shortly before her death.

She delighted in greeting dining room guests and expressing her welcome with a repertoire of corny jokes.

Sister Kapusta is survived by her sister-in-law, Anne Kapusta of Springfield; her beloved nieces, nephews and cousins; and her Dominican Sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Sylvan (Pete) Kapusta; and sisters, Genevieve Ozanic and Sister M. Bernadine,OP, also a Springfield Dominican Sister.

Donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 West Monroe Street, Springfield, IL, 62704. Condolences may be left online at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.