Sister Thomasita Homan, OSB

Sister Thomasita Homan, 88, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Thursday, October 8, at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there on Friday, October 9, at 10:30 a.m. 

She was born in Pawnee City, Neb., on Aug. 7, 1938, the second of eight children of Mary Veronica and Richard Homan and given the name Judith. After attending Mount St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison, she entered the monastery in 1956 and made her lifetime profession in 1961, taking the religious name Thomasita. She taught in elementary schools in Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, and Kansas for 19 years. After earning her M.A. in English at Iowa State University, she taught English at Benedictine College and also was Director of Alumni Relations and of Campus Ministry there. In addition, she served some years directing sisters in initial formation at Mount St. Scholastica and as director for lay oblates. Travel was a delight for her, especially the month visiting her brother in Jordan and her trips to Israel, Syria, Pakistan, Italy and Ireland. These travels also influenced her poetry and other writing. As a close friend of Wangari Maathai, a graduate of Mount St. Scholastica College (later Benedictine College), she had the honor of attending the ceremony in Norway when Wangari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sister Thomasita was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Richard and Michael Homan. She is survived by her sisters, Sheila (Mark) Schilling, Kathleen Claussen, Brenda Smith and Margaret Peterson, and her brother, Thomas (Sheryl) Homan, nieces and nephews, and her monastic family. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s website.