Dora Kovach

Obituary Sister Cecilia Alice Kovach, OSF, died in St. Ann Convent, Tacoma, Washington, on January 6. She was eighty-nine years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Franicis of Philadelphia for sixty-eight years. Sister Cecilia Alice (Dora Cecilia Kovach) was born in Tacoma, where she was a member of Sacred Heart Parish. She graduated from St. Leo High School in Tacoma. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1936 she worked at St. Ann Orphanage in Tacoma. After earning a B.A. in Education from Holy Names College in Spokane, Sister Cecilia Alice ministered primarily in elementary education, both as a teacher and as a librarian. She received special recognition from the NCEA for forty-six years of service in education. She enjoyed reading, gardening and keeping in contact with the elderly. Sister Cecilia Alice ministered for fifty-one years in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Thirty-one of those years were spent at St. Charles Borromeo School where she first taught from 1963-1966. She returned there from 1973-2001, first as teacher and then as librarian. In addition she taught at St. Leo School. In 2001 Sister Cecilia Alice moved to St. Ann Convent where she served until her death, first as a volunteer and then in prayer ministry. In addition to her ministry in the Archdiocese of Seattle, Sister Cecilia Alice also ministered in the diocese of Baker, Spokane and Portland, in both healthcare ministry and education. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Friday, January 12, 2007 at 11:00 am. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Viewing for the public will be from noon until 3:00 pm on Thursday, January 11 at Gaffney Funeral Home. Sister Cecilia Alice is survived by two brothers, Florian Kovach of LaGrande, Oregon and Arnold Kovach of Tacoma, Washington; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sister Cecilia Alice Scholarship fund at St. Charles Borromeo School c/o Mr. Patrick Feist, principal, St. Charles Borromeo School, 7112 South 12th Street, Tacoma, WA 98465. The Sisters of St. Francis express their gratitude to Ardythe, sister-in-law of Sr. Cecilia Alice, the caregivers at St. Ann Convent and Dr. Bernardo for their loving care of Sister Cecilia Alice.