March 20, 1907 - February 7, 2005
Sister Monica Staudinger, 97, died Feb. 7 in the Dominican Sisters’ convent infirmary in Great Bend. Sister Monica was born March 20, 1907, in Dubuque, Kan., as Marie Staudinger. She entered the Dominican Sisters’ Community on June 2, 1923, and pronounced her first vows March 9, 1926. She celebrated 75 years of religious profession in 2001.
Sister Monica was a lifelong teacher, having been in some aspect of the education of elementary children of Kansas from 1926 to 1991. She taught grades 3 through 8 in almost 20 different parochial schools, often being the principal as well as a teacher. After semi-retirement, she still worked in school libraries, taught religion or music, or served as a substitute teacher. Sister Monica is survived by one sister, Sister Veronica Staudinger OP of Great Bend, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Veronica Woydziak Staudinger; six brothers, the Rev. Joseph Staudinger OSB, Adolph, Anton, Henry, Carl and Robert Staudinger; and one sister, Helen Staudinger Malone. Sister Monica’s body will be brought to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, at 4:30 p.m. today, where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the convent. Burial will be in the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery.
