Cecilia Mindrup was born at New Almelo, Kansas on Dec. 16, 1910. Her mother was from Germany, her father from Illinois. Cecilia was a pupil of our St. Joseph's Academy and entered the convent at Clyde on Aug. 2, 1928, was admitted to the Novitiate on Mar. 16, 1929 and made profession as Sister M. Alphonsa on Aug. 3, 1930. She received Consecration of Virgins with the first group in Kansas City on April 6, 1953.

Sister was quiet, humble, kind and thoughtful of others, and very neat and orderly in all she did. She was a fervent religious, a hard worker, and for some years helped to care for the chickens, which afforded many opportunities for self-sacrifice. An excellent seamstress, she made the Sisters' habits and veils, and also did artistic needlework. She took delight in dressing dolls in nuns' garb, to be used as gifts, or for bazaars, vocational projects, etc. Her native artistic talent, never formally developed, found expression in greeting cards, art folders, plaques, etc.

Sister was at Mundelein for intermittent periods of time, and spent the last ten years or so at the Kansas City convent as a patient in the infirmary because of a serious heart condition due to rheumatoid arthritis. While there she continued with her sewing and helped with other light tasks, but devoted much time to Sister M. Bonaventure, then in her eighties, who needed constant care and attention. She was truly an angel of charity to Sister, and looked after her in many ways: saw that she took her proper rest, helped her with her meals, took her to the balcony in a wheel-chair and stayed with her while she prayed, etc. She also helped her with her quilting, doing machine-sewing, working out patterns, matching blocks, etc.

Sister M. Alphonsa had several severe heart attacks which brought her to death's door, and as a consequence was very delicate. Yet she continued her activities, and on the very morning that was to be her last, had gone about her usual routine up to the time of the fatal attack around 10:00 a.m. She assisted at Holy Mass, went to confession, as it was confession day, and took care of a number of little tasks at the infirmary, picked a bouquet of flowers from her little garden for one of the Sisters, and at her appointed time went to the pharmacy for a check-up by the doctor, who had come for his monthly visit. After examining Sister briefly, he found her heartbeat to be about the same, and then asked if she had had any blackout spells lately. Sister answered that she had had a few very light ones, and then added with a smile: "I think I'm getting one now." At that she collapsed into the arms of the Prioress (Sister M. Eulalia), and though stimulants were given immediately both by the doctor and the infirmarian, all efforts to revive her failed. She had answered the call of the Bridegroom, whom she had served so lovingly and faithfully.

It was October 30, 1962, - just a month and a half before Sister's 52d birthday. She was the first one to die at the Kansas City convent. Burial was in Mt. Calvary cemetery at Clyde on All Souls' Day, the principal Mass for the day having been celebrated as her Requiem.