6 September 1941 – 1 March 2023
As both a servant-leader and teacher, Sister Barbara Kushan dedicated 44 years of her ministry to education. Sister Barbara passed to eternal life in the Spirit on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
Barbara’s was born on Sept. 6, 1941 in Kansas City, Kansas the younger of two children of John and Genevieve (Stempski) Kushan. She attended St. John the Baptist Grade School and Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City. She entered the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Aug. 30, 1961. She professed vows as Sister Ivan Marie on Aug. 9, 1969, and later returned to her baptismal name.
As a math and science teacher, Sister Barbara was an advocate for study in computer science. She brought computer education to students even when access was difficult. While teaching at Billings Central High School in Montana, the computers were connected via teletype to a server at Montana State University in Bozeman. In 1977, at her suggestion, the administration of Saint Mary College added computer science to the curriculum. The program grew from one course to become the top computer science program in the state of Kansas by 1984. Sister Barbara held master’s degrees in math and computer science and a doctorate in computer science. She retired to Ross Hall in 2015, taking part in prayer ministry and living in companionship with her fellow SCLs.
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