A funeral Mass for Sister Doris Rechtiene was celebrated Dec. 28 in the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood’s St. Joseph Chapel. Sister Doris, a Sister of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon for 70 years died Dec. 19 at age 88.
Born in St. Louis, she entered the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood’s novitiate in 1949 and professed first vows in 1951. She completed a bachelor’s degree in theology at Quincy College in 1967.
Sister Doris served as an elementary teacher and principal, a pastoral minister and director of religious education, a spiritual director, a food pantry volunteer and a caregiver to elders. She was a formation director, coordinator of the motherhouse and of the Partners in Mission, a member of the housekeeping and transportation staff, and hospitality coordinator.
In Missouri, Sister Doris taught at St. George and St. Monica Schools in St. Louis, St. Brendan in Mexico, Most Sacred Heart in Florissant, St. Paul in St. Paul, and at Linda Vista Catholic School in Chesterfield. She also served as a volunteer at St. Agatha Center and at St. Cecilia Food Pantry.
Sister Doris was one of three pioneer sisters who opened her community’s first South American mission in Lima, Peru. She spent nearly 45 years in Peru and Bolivia, more than half of her professed life. Her time there was interspersed with one- to five-year stints in the U.S. She had a passionate desire to respond to the needs she encountered in South America and often encouraged other sisters to consider serving there.
Survivors include a sister, Jo-Ann Jungewaelter, and a stepbrother, Mark Rechtiene.
