LEAVENWORTH — Sister Loretto Marie Colwell, 86, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 67 years, died on April 17.
Born Margaret Christine “Chris” Colwell on Oct. 24, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, she was the youngest of five children of George William Jr. and Catherine Loretta Colwell.
Chris grew up in a close-knit family and attended St. Therese of Little Flower Grade School and Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City, Missouri.
She first met the Sisters of Charity in high school and later developed a deeper appreciation for the Sisters while attending Saint Mary College. This deeper appreciation, along with a “strong pull of the Holy Spirit,” led to her own calling for a future committed to religious life.
She entered the Sisters of Charity community on Aug. 24, 1958, and received her habit on Feb. 24, 1959, taking the name Sister Loretto Marie.
Sister Loretto Marie earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth in 1980 and a master of health administration from Saint Louis University in St. Louis in 1984.
Her ministry spanned decades of leadership in Catholic health care, where she became known for her strong values, thoughtful leadership and commitment to compassionate service.
In 1984, she was appointed assistant administrator at St. James Community Hospital in Butte, Montana, and soon after became vice president for marketing and special projects. In 1986, she was named president of the hospital, a role in which she demonstrated both strategic vision and a deep concern for those in need.
For the next 15 years, Sister Loretto Marie served as president of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Topeka. During her tenure, she guided the hospital through significant growth and innovation while keeping its mission grounded in care of the whole person.
Following her years in health care leadership, she continued her ministry as executive director of Seton Center in Kansas City, Missouri, from 2006 to 2018. There, she focused on serving individuals and families experiencing poverty, expanding access to food, clothing and essential services.
