Sister Mary Wichman, R.S.M.

SISTER MARY CEPHAS WICHMAN, R.S.M.

Cedar Rapids

Sister Mary Cephas Wichman, R.S.M., 84, died May 6, 2016, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids after a brief illness. Services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, at Mount Mercy University Chapel of Mercy by the Rev. Robert McAleer. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 9, at the Chapel of Mercy, with a wake service at 6:30 p.m. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services.

Sister Mary Cephas Wichman was born Jan. 29, 1932, in Waucoma, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Huberta (McAleer) Wichman. She attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary in Lawler and graduated from Waucoma High School in 1949. She entered the Cedar Rapids Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in 1950.

Sister Mary Cephas graduated from Mount Mercy Junior College in 1951; received a B.A. in American History from Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, in 1961 and a M.A. in American History from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., in 1968.

Sister Mary Cephas' first ministry was elementary and middle school education. From 1953 to 1969, she taught in the following Eastern Iowa parochial schools: St. John and St. Nicholas in Waterloo; Sacred Heart, Oelwein; St. John, Clarion; St. Joseph, Marion; and All Saints in Cedar Rapids, where she also served as principal from 1969 to 1971.

Sister Mary Cephas served as major superior/president of the Sisters of Mercy Cedar Rapids Regional Community from 1971 to 1979. Following her two terms as major superior, she joined the staff of Mount Mercy College as alumni director, becoming vice president of development in 1985 and executive assistant to the president from 2000 to 2004. Sister Mary Cephas was involved in many civic organizations and community boards. She faithfully served for 37 years on the Mercy Medical Center board of trustees.

Upon her retirement in 2004, Sister Mary Cephas was an active volunteer until the time of her death serving as a Board of Trustee member for the Catherine McAuley Center; archivist for the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids; voting poll worker; and continuing development and community outreach work for both Mount Mercy University and the Sisters of Mercy.

Sister Mary Cephas was known for her talent in baking and always enjoyed making scones for the annual Catherine McAuley Center tea. She greatly enjoyed taking part in the Cedar Rapids community, spending time with her family and friends and being part of the Sisters of Mercy Community. Sister Mary Cephas was a vowed member of the Sisters of Mercy for 66 years.

In addition to the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary Cephas is survived by siblings, Madonna Einwalter of Fort Atkinson, Eleanor Burke of Elma, Margaret Regenold of Fairbank and Robert Wichman of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Huberta; and siblings, John, Joseph, Edward and James Wichman, Delores Hubka and Dorothy Mihm.

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