One for the History Books

By: Eleanor Gentilini

There are many women’s ministry groups at military chapels around the world, and although they are all different in many ways, there is a common thread of SERVICE. One of the groups that has personified this virtue for decades is Our Lady of Fort Carson in Colorado. After recently attending funerals for some of our former members and remembering their legacy of service, I was prompted to make known the contributions of eight remarkable women I have known who have gone to their eternal reward. Those of you who have been with MCCW for a while and have attended conferences, retreats, and forums, may remember them and enjoy knowing a little more about each of them.

Adele Doefler (2007) – a petite German woman who always looked as if she stepped out of a fashion magazine. After knee or hip surgery, she quickly returned to wearing her spike high heels and never missed a beat.

Erika Wittman (2012) – served on the board as Vice President, was a Lector at Mass, sang in the choir, and was a Master Gardener who shared her love of plants and flowers. She especially enjoyed the beautiful grounds at our regional retreat twice held in Malibu.

Kathy Wallace (2013) – when the chapel had no parish coordinator, Kathy maintained all the Religious Education, Volunteer Hour, and Sacramental records. She also served several terms as Treasurer and continued serving MCCW through 10 years of dialysis.

Catherine Maxwell (2016) –  led a weekly prayer group for vocations, for the sick and suffering, and for all in need of prayer. She also organized a Divine Mercy Novena. Catherine also sent birthday cards to each of our members every year, counted the offerings, and sang in the choir.

Kathleen Whitehead (2020) – Known to all as Kit, served as Co-President for several terms with Pat Vacik whom she had known from previous chapels. As a Lector, Kit made the Word of God come alive. She was always active in the chapel community while caring for her severely handicapped sister. 

Maria Ryan (2020) – former active duty service member, hospital pharmacy volunteer, altar linen minister, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and member of the advisory board to the Commander of Fort Carson. Maria’s devotion to the Blessed Mother led her to make four pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

Pat Vacik (2020) – Served as Co-President for several terms with her friend and buddy, Kit Whitehead. Pat always had an interesting tale to entertain. In later years, when symptoms of childhood polio returned to cause a myriad of problems, Pat carried on with her positive spirit.

Ursula Ramos (2021) – Red Cross volunteer for decades, organizer of Lenten Soup Suppers (cooking to set-up to clean-up), and maker of baby hats for preemies born at the post hospital. In 2004, she carried the Olympic torch as it passed through Colorado Springs enroute to Salt Lake City. Ursula was the most recent to pass away in May of this year; she was 98.

All of these women gave so much of themselves throughout the years and touched so many lives, that we are forever grateful. I can picture them continuing one big eternal MCCW Conference together.

Tell Us Your Story: Do you have a story about a special CWOC or MCCW sister in Christ who has passed on? Send a short vignette with the year of her passing and a photo (if available) to historian@mccw.org. We will catalog these stories in our MCCW history archives.