Sister Cecilia Ann Stremel (Sister Celie Ann), 81, died February 26, 2025, at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Great Bend. She was born December 22, 1943, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of Sim and Sophie (Herman) Stremel. She entered the Dominican Sisters community in 1959 and pronounced vows in 1962. This year marks her 63rd year of religious profession.
From 1965 to 1987, Sister Celie Ann was an elementary school teacher at St. Rose School in Great Bend, St. Mary School in Garden City, Sacred Heart School in Cunningham, and St. Boniface School in Sharon, Kansas. In 1988, she worked for the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health in Great Bend as a Foot Reflexologist and a Reiki Master as well as Office Manager, retiring in 2015.
She gave guitar lessons after school to some of her students and played guitar and sang for many weddings, anniversaries, and funerals. Her love of calligraphy led her to provide those services for Sacramental certificates as well as teaching the art to others. She was also a member of the Election Commission, Chapter Secretary, Cedar Park Place Board member, and served on the One With Earth Commission. For many years, she was editor of the Great Bend Dominican community newspaper, “Grains of Wheat”.
Sister Cecilia Ann Stremel was preceded in death by her parents Sim and Sophie Stremel; brother, Jim Stremel; sisters, Bernadette Dome and Edna Temaat; nephew, Gregory Temaat; and niece, Brenda Dome-Luff.
She is survived by her niece, Jo Temaat Wooderson (Rick) of Hutchinson; nephews, Florian Dome of Pfeifer, Darrell Dome of Victoria, Marion Dome (Susan) of Olathe, Stan Dome of Pfeifer, Stuart Dome (Tammy) of Victoria, Timothy James (Tim) of Tampa, Florida, Clyde Luff of Wichita; great-niece, Jennifer Truta (Brian) of Overland Park; great nephew, Ryan Wooderson (Cathy) of Centennial, Colorado; great-niece, Andrea Hoffman (Brenton) of Victoria; great-niece, Ashley Urban (Kole) of Loretto; great nephew Brian Dome (Lori) of Victoria; 4 great-great nephews; 4 great-great nieces; and numerous cousins and friends.
A Wake Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 pm on March 8, 2025. Both will take place at the Sisters’ Convent. Burial will be in the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Sister Celilia Ann may be sent to Dominican Sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219-2098.