Sister Mary (Mary Arthur) Kratina, OSB, 93, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Thursday, February 1, 2018, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Sunday, February 4, at 4:00 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there Monday, February 5, at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Mary was born in Chicago, Ill., on April 2, 1924, but spent most of her childhood in the Rossville, Kan., area. After graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in St. Marys, Kan., she worked as a welder during World War II until entering the monastery in 1944. She earned her B.S. in education at Mount St. Scholastica College and M.S. in education at St. Louis University, and pursued further studies at the University of Detroit and Washburn University. She taught in area schools and was also a principal for several years. Later, she served in religious education for children and adults in several parishes, conducting workshops, leading prayer groups, and teaching in ecumenical settings, and also taught in St. Marys, Kan. Returning to Atchison in 1998, she was laundry supervisor for eight years.

Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents Helen and John Kratina, and her brother George Kratina. She is survived by her brother John M. (Marjorie) Kratina, sister-in-law Patricia Kratina, the families of nieces Tammy (Dennis) Biswell of Wamego and Debra (Karim) Hazim of Topeka, and nephew John M. (Cynthia) Kratina of Topeka, and her monastic family. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home (beckerdyer.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s web site (www.mountosb.org).