Sister Cecile Matushek, age 81, died at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Missouri on March 14, 2022. She was born on July 19, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to Elsie Blanche (Steinweg) and Paul Erhardt Matushek. Sister Cecile entered the Daughters of Charity on January 25, 1959 and attended Marillac College (1960-1963) earning a BA in English and Latin.
Sister Cecile served in education for the next 28 years as a Primary teacher at St. Boniface School in Perryville, Missouri (1963-1968) and St. Stephen School, New Orleans, Louisiana (1968-1973). Sister Cecile was a teacher (1973-1977) and then Principal (1977-1980) at Central Catholic Community School in St. Louis, Missouri. During this time, she earned her master’s degree in Elementary Education Administration from Saint Louis University (1977). She was Principal at St. Paul Apostle School in Pine Lawn, Missouri (1980-1983); then, she returned to Perryville, Missouri as Principal at St. Boniface (1983-1988). Sister Cecile was then missioned to Prescott, Arkansas where she served as Learning Club teacher for the Southern Arkansas Ministry (1988-1991).
After completing her master’s in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sister Cecile began another deeply rewarding ministry in the healthcare field. In 1991, she was missioned to Providence Health Center in Waco, Texas where she served as Vice-President for Mission Integration for 26 years (1991-2017). In 2017, Sister was missioned to The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Missouri to serve in the Ministry of Prayer and volunteer in the gift shop until the time of her death.
Sister Cecile served on many Boards in education and healthcare. She was the local Community Superior in St. Louis, Missouri; Perryville, Missouri; and in Waco, Texas.
The Visitation and Funeral Mass were held on Saturday, March 19 at The Sarah Community Marian Chapel, Bridgeton. Burial followed at Marillac Cemetery in Normandy, Missouri.
Sister Cecile was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Paul and John Matushek and her sister Margaret Gibbons. She is survived by her sister Elissa Rose Oldaker and many beloved nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, friends and her Sisters in Community.