Sister Cecilia Gene Bushnell, DLJC

Sister Cecilia Bushnell, DLJC, 74, of Prayer Town Emmanuel, passed peacefully on November 21, 2024.

Sister Cecilia will be available for visitation at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, on Sunday, November 24, 2024, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 10:00 AM in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Prayer Town, Texas, with Father Mitch Przepiora presiding and Father Anthony Neusch concelebrating. Interment will follow in Prayer Town Cemetery.

Sister Cecilia was born Barbara Gene Bushnell on July 22, 1950, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Tom Gene and Lucy (King) Bushnell. She graduated from Santa Fe High School and attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She spent two years as an apprentice with the Sacred Dance Group. Sister Cecilia continued her education by obtaining her Long Distance Catholic University Advanced Catechist certification and Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction.

In the fall of 1968, Sister Cecilia pledged to the Chi Delta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She served as the corresponding secretary from 1970 to 1971. From 1973 to 1976, she worked as a teacher. In 1977, she served full-time on the International Ministry with the Sacred Dance Group until 1985. Sister Cecilia evangelized through scripture, visual, and dance. She ministered around the world, including the USA, Great Britain, and Australia.

In 1985 she was received into the Catholic Church, and on October 1 of the same year, she entered the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. On November 10, 1987, Sister Cecilia made her first vows. And on November 9, 1991, she made her perpetual profession of vows. She served as Director of Novices, Director of Formation; two terms as the Vicar General, Mission Advancement Assistant, and Head for the production of Banners for Liturgical uses. She participated in numerous evangelistic ministries, including Women’s retreats, Pre-Confirmation Retreats, ACTS retreats, Kairos Retreat Ministry and Retreat Master for other retreats, Caravan of Jesus’ Joy, Music Ministry, Spiritual Direction, Ministry of Letter Writing with personally made cards, Ministry of Intercession, and a Mission trip to China.

Her hobbies included calligraphy, making beautiful homemade cards, and training dogs. She was also an avid hiker of mountains and other trails.

Sister Cecilia was loved by all she encountered and embraced all as family. 

Sister Cecilia is survived by her cousins Barbara Bushnell Gay, Laura Gay Clark, Florence Gay Clark, Elizabeth Bushnell Gay, Dennis Bushnell, and Susan Bushnell Schopowitz; her large extended King family on her mother’s side; and her step-sister Ann Brooks. She was preceded in death by her parents and half-brother, Richard King Miller.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Disciples of Lord Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 64 Prayer Town, Texas 79010, in memory of Sister Cecilia.