Mary Catherine Stegeman Ornelas, 83, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday morning, August 28, 2008 at Life Care Center in Seneca.

She was born in St. Benedict, KS, on September 2, 1924, the daughter of Frank and Mary Blocker Stegeman. Her parents died when she was about four years old and she was raised by her Uncle John and Aunt Mary Enneking Blocker. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in St. Benedict in 1942, and worked at the John Blocker Hardware Store in St. Benedict. In 1950, she moved to Kansas City, MO and was employed by Russell Stover Candy Company. She then took a job at Jenkin’s Music Co. for 10 years, and later became a clerk for Great Western Paint for five years. In March of 1965 she joined the First National Bank in Kansas City, MO. Later the bank merged with Boatman’s and she continued working in the trust department until her retirement in March of 1988, after 23 years with the bank.

She was married May 5, 1990 to H. John Ornelas at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO. They lived in Kansas City until 1997 when they moved to Seneca. In the fall of 1999, they moved to Sabetha to live in the Apostolic Christian Village. Her husband perceeded her in death on February 6, 2004. She then moved to the Apostolic Christian Home, and later returned to Seneca where she become a resident of Life Care Center.

She was a former member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO and the Altar & Rosary Society at the church; she was also a Eucharistic minister there. She did volunteer work at the St. Joseph Health Center in Kansas City for several years. She was also a member of St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict after her return to Nemaha County.

She is survived by three sisters, Evelyn Kramer of Baileyville, Frances Kramer of St. Benedict and Juanita Koelzer of Otella, WA; and several nieces and nephews.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday, August 29, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.