— PAID OBITUARY —
Sister Mary Consolata Eckart, 105 years old, was born April 29, 1905, in Humboldt, Kan., and died Sept. 23, 2010, at Mercy Health Center Convent, Oklahoma City, Okla.
She was born to Emil Eckart and Elizabeth Christina Hutinett Eckart. Sister experienced a happy childhood as the sixth child, and third daughter, in this loving family of seven children. As a young teen she served as the secretary of the parish Sodality and it was at this time that she recognized a call to religious life. She was advised by her parish priest that the Sisters of Mercy at Fort Scott were “real” sisters. Sister Consolata thought she would try it for three weeks, and she ended up staying 84 years. Later she was joined by another sibling, Sr. Mary Catherine as a Sister of Mercy.
Sister Consolata’s education prepared her as a teacher of Latin, history, library science and music. Her degrees were obtained from the Municipal University of Wichita, Kan.; Iola Junior College, Iola, Kan.; Teacher’s College of Emporia, Emporia, Kan.; Mount Saint Scholastica College, Atchison, Kan.; St. Mary College, Leavenworth, Kan.; and St. Louis University, Mo. Sister was missioned to elementary and secondary schools at Moline, Piqua, Walnut and Fort Scott, Kan.; Groom, Texas; Portageville, Mo.; Little Rock, Ark.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Vicksburg, Miss. She was endeared as a teacher, assisting many in music and piano and later years as an organist in many churches.
In her early retirement years she served as a librarian for 18 years at the Mercy School of Nursing in Fort Scott, Kan. During her 100th year Sister was missioned to Mercy Health Center Convent, Oklahoma City, for full retirement where she received compassionate, loving care provided by her Sisters of Mercy, gentle convent co-workers, devoted physicians and medical teams. She was always a model of cheerfulness and graciousness as she continued to age in grace. She lived as a prayerful and dedicated Sister of Mercy.
Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Leo Eckart, Regina Womack, Bernard Eckart, Andrew Eckart, Cecilia Weldon and Sr. Mary Catherine Eckart.
She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews who remember her with fondness as a spiritual woman who also enjoyed a wonderful sense of humor.
Sister Consolata saw Christ in everyone.
Wake and Rosary will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Mercy Health Center Convent. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2010. Burial will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Masses/memorials may be made to Sisters of Mercy Retirement Center, 4300 W. Memorial Rd., Oklahoma City, OK 73120.
Smith & Kernke Funeral Home, 14624 N. May Avenue (405-302-0021) is in charge of arrangements.
— PAID OBITUARY —
