Sister Mary Catherine (Ginger Lee) Warehime

Sister Mary Catherine (Ginger Lee) Warehime, age 65, died peacefully at St. Agnes Sisters’ Residence Baltimore, Maryland on December 17, 2020.  She was born on July 12, 1955 in Baltimore, the second of three children born to Flo May (Ambrose) and Donald Leroy Warehime.    During her attendance at Seton High School in Baltimore, she converted to the Catholic Faith, and shortly after receiving her high school diploma, entered the Daughters of Charity April 3, 1975.

After her postulancy and seminary formation, Sister Mary Catherine was sent to Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg to assist in the school program for nine months and then was missioned to St Michael’s House in Baltimore.  Sister Mary Catherine attended the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, where she received a BA in Elementary Education.   Following her graduation, Sister Mary Catherine served as a primary teacher in Petersburg, Virginia (1980 to 1984), Martinsburg, West Virginia (1984-1985), Lynchburg, Virginia (1985-1987).  She returned to Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg as primary teacher for three years before assuming the role of Principal of this school from 1991 to 1995.  During her time at Mother Seton School Sister Mary Catherine served as local superior (Sister Servant) from 1989 to 1993.  Following her time in Emmitsburg, Sister then set up and taught an early childhood educational program at St Ann’s in Hyattsville, Maryland.  She was missioned to Fayetteville North Carolina as an Educational Consultant for St Ann Youth Center and then as teacher at St Ann’s School in Fayetteville for three years.

In June of 2005, Sister Mary Catherine was asked to serve in Vocation Ministry for the Emmitsburg province. In July 2007, she was appointed to the Provincial Council of this same province.  In 2011 the Emmitsburg Province joined three other provinces of the Daughters of Charity in the United States to form the Province of St Louise.  She was then appointed to the Provincial Council of this new province and served Provincial Secretary and Councillor.  After her term of office was completed, Sister Mary Catherine returned to Baltimore and was asked to join the newly established Office of Migration and Modern Slavery.  During this time, she also cared for her father, mother, and brother Stephen as they became seriously ill.  Each died within 22 months of each other.  In March 2020, Sister Mary Catherine, was diagnosed with cancer of the liver.  After treatment became ineffective, she peacefully chose to discontinue treatment and embraced her final journey here on earth.

Sister Mary Catherine had been a member of the board of Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore and Marian Middle School in St Louis.  What Sister Mary Catherine valued most about her life as a Daughter of Charity was her love for children, her ability to bring them calm and to help them gain self-confidence.  In all of her ministries, Sister Mary Catherine was distinguished for her creativity and organizational skills.  She loved dance and all things that bring joy!

Sister Mary Catherine was preceded in death by her parents Flo and Lee, and older brother, Stephen.   She is survived by her brother Donald (Jeff), a niece and nephew, Rachel and Ryan, a grand-nephew, Luke, and other members of her extended family, her Sisters in Community, and many friends.   A private Wake Service will be held in the Villa Chapel followed by the Mass of Christian burial in the Mary Chapel with burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Emmitsburg.