Soreghan RSM, Sister Cecilia

Sister Cecilia Soreghan RSM, 88, died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at Mercy Hallmar Care Center in Cedar Rapids after a lengthy illness. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel in Cedar Rapids by the Rev. David Ambrosy. Burial will follow the funeral service at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Friends may call from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Convent in Cedar Rapids, with a wake service at 7 p. m. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral and Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.

Sister Cecilia was born in Portland, Ore., the daughter of Frank and Rozella (Carberry) Soreghan.   She attended elementary school at St. Agatha's in Portland, Ore., before her family moved to Ames, Iowa, where she attended St. Cecilia School. Sister Cecilia graduated from Ames High School in 1940 and entered the Sisters of Mercy Cedar Rapids Community in 1942. She attended Mount Mercy Junior College in Cedar Rapids and Loras College in Dubuque. Her love for music at an early age led her to receive both bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Iowa and a lifetime ministry in music.

Sister Cecilia began her ministry teaching music education at St. John's School in Clarion; St. Patrick's School in Anamosa; St. Joseph's School in Marion and All Saints, Immaculate Conception and Regis High School, all in Cedar Rapids. In 1974, Sister Cecilia learned the art of translating music scores to Braille and worked for a specialized firm in Los Angeles that converted music for sight-impaired classical and contemporary musicians.

In 1978, she cared for her mother and taught music at the Cathedral School in Los Angeles and St. Augustine in Culver City, Calif. In 1992, Sister Cecilia retired and returned to Cedar Rapids, where she shared her musical talent with the Sisters of Mercy, serving as a musician and liturgist at Sacred Heart Convent for many years until her health no longer allowed her to do so.

Sister Cecilia was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Phyllis.

In addition to the Sisters of Mercy she is survived by her brother, Frank Soreghan of Los Angeles, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1125 Prairie Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Published Feb. 25, 2012 in The Gazette