Dominican Sister of Peace Petrona Stockemer, OP, (98), died at the Great Bend Motherhouse on June 25, 2017.  She was born in 1918 in Cunningham, KS, to Katherine Fischer and Peter Stockemer.  She made her first profession in 1936 and celebrated 80 years of service to her Church and her Community in 2016.

Sr. Petrona earned a Bachelor of Arts in German Education from Marymount College in Salina, KS, and Masters of Education from Creighton University in Omaha, NE.

Sr. Petrona shared her knowledge and love of learning throughout her life. Her ministry took her all over the state of Kansas as a teacher, principal, and a librarian, working with elementary and high school students. She was named an Outstanding Secondary Educator of America in 1975.

On the occasion of her 73 anniversary of profession, Sister Betty Werner, OP, said of Sr. Petrona, “So many of your students remember you with joy and love.” Sr. Petrona truly did love learning and teaching, so much that she took a “Sarah Sabbatical” at the age of 78 to learn to manage the challenges of aging and continue her ministry. She served as a tutor and in prayer and presence at the Great Bend Motherhouse until her death.

Sr. Petrona was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Sister Malachy (Elizabeth) Stockemer, OP.  She is survived by the Community of her Dominican Sisters.

A Vigil of Remembrance was held on June 27, 2017. The Mass of Christian Burial was held on June 28 at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Great Bend, KS. She is interred at the Sisters Resurrection Cemetery, also in Great Bend.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Petrona’s memory may be submitted securely online or sent to:
Dominican Sisters of Peace
Office of Mission Advancement
2320 Airport Drive
Columbus, OH 43219.