Sister Viatora Solbach died May 26, 2011, at Mount Joseph Senior Village in Concordia, KS.  She was 89 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 71 years.  She was born in Clifton, KS on December 6, 1921 to John and Martha L'Ecuyer Solbach, the second of fourteen children, and was baptized Mary Catherine.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas on September 8, 1939.  On March 18, 1940, Mary Catherine received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Viatora.  She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1941 and final vows on August 15, 1944.             Sister Viatora received a B.S. in Biology from Marymount College in Salina in 1961.  She served the community as a teacher in Plainville, Antonino, Tipton, Beloit, Salina, Kansas and in St. George and Chicago, Illinois.  After leaving the classroom, Sister Viatora worked to establish a house of prayer; the convent in Clyde became the founding site for Manna House of Prayer.  In 1975-1979 Sister Viatora served on the Executive Council for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Concordia.  After serving her term on the Council, she worked to open Clare House of Hospitality in Junction City, Kansas, for homeless women and children.  In its 8½ years of operation, Clare House served nearly 1,500 women and children as a place of shelter and safety.  In 2002, she retired to Nazareth Motherhouse.  She moved to Mt. Joseph Senior Village in 2007. Sister Viatora was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.  She is survived by three brothers, Charles, Vernon and Mark; and four sisters, Edith Taylor, Marilyn Ayers, Carolyn Cote and Mary Martha Balentine.  A Bible Vigil Service will be held May 29, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Mary Reiter as the eulogist.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be May 30, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with Rev. Jack Schlaf presiding.  The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery.  Chaput-Buoy Mortuary, 325 W. 6th St., Concordia, KS is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials for Sister Viatora Solbach may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/ Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O Box 279, Concordia, KS  66901.