Sister Celeste Compas

KELSO, Mo. -- Sister Celeste (Mary Aquina) Compas, ASC, 104, died Monday, May 19, 2014, at the Ruma Center in Ruma, Illinois.

She was born Nov. 3, 1909, in Kelso to the late Frank and Amelia Dunger Compas.

Sister Compas made her first vows as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ on July 2, 1933, and final profession July 1, 1938.

She received a bachelor of science degree from St. Louis University in 1958. She was certified in the elementary school religion program in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Diocese of Belleville.

Sister Compas served as a teacher, mostly for primary grades, for 47 years. She often taught in the parish school of religion on Saturdays and played the organ on Sundays. Her places of ministry included schools in Herrin, Illinois (1934 to 1936), Olney, Illinois (1936 to 1938), Mount Carmel, Illinois (1938 to 1944), St. Rose, Illinois (1944 to 1946), Damiansville, Illinois (1946 and 1947), Dahlgren, Illinois (1947 to 1951), Bartelso, Illinois (1951 to 1962), Flora, Illinois (1962 to 1964), Festus, Missouri (1964 to 1967, 1975 and 1976), Salem, Illinois (1967 to 1969), Cahokia, Illinois (1969 and 1970), St. Libory, Illinois (1970 to 1975), O'Fallon, Illinois (1976 to 1979) and Red Bud, Illinois (1979 to 1982).

During the last seven years of active ministry, she served as a parish minister to the elderly in Kelso from 1988 to 1995. She retired to the Ruma Center in 1995.

Survivors include many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and 10 brothers and sisters.

Mass of Christian burial was held Friday at Ruma Center Chapel, with Sr. Jan Renz of the leadership team giving reflections. Interment was in the Convent Cemetery in Ruma.

Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud assisted the convent with arrangements.

Donations may be sent to the ASC Retirement Fund, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109 or online at adorers.org, "Support Our Ministries".

To view this obituary and sign the register book, visit wpfh.net.