A mass of Christian burial for 90-year old Sister Genevieve “Pansy” Cuny, is Wednesday, June 23rd at 11:00 am at the Wakan Tiyospaye Community Center in Rockyford, SD.
A viewing will precede the service from 10:00 – 11:00 am also at the Wakan Tiyospaye Community Center.
Burial will be held at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Pine Ridge.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of the arrangements for Sister Genevieve Cuny.
Sister Genevieve Cuny was born on July 16, 1930 at Cuny Table to Wilson and Florence (Twiss) Cuny and was given the name Carmelita at birth, but later in life known as Pansy. Sister Genevieve made her journey to the Spirit World on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Marian Residence in Alliance, NE.
Sister Genevieve followed the Lord’s call to the Sisters of St. Francis and entered as a candidate on September 8, 1951.
She professed her vows on August 15, 1954 at Marycrest Convent in Denver, CO and took the name Sister
Mary Genevieve. She received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Regis College in Denver in 1959, her
Master’s in Business Education from Detroit University in 1967 and her Master’s in Religious Studies from Loyola
University in Chicago, IL in 1985.
Her ministry in teaching from 1954 to 1973 took her to St. Mary’s in O’Neill, NE, St. Francis Mission, SD, Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge, SD, and St. Agnes Academy in Alliance, NE. She would serve in Pastoral Ministry and the missions in South Dakota until 1984 and would serve as Director of Native American Catechetics in Rapid City, SD until the late 1980’s. Sister Genevieve would also serve as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer at Queen of Peace Oratory in Denver, CO from 1991 to 1996 and then return to Holy Rosary Mission as Director of Catechist Formation. From September 2000 to February 2005 she would live in Rome, Italy and serve as General Treasurer for the Generalate, the International Headquarters for the Provinces throughout Europe, Africa, Mexico, South and North American and Indonesia. Following her return to the United States, she resided in Denver until 2009 when she came to Marian Residence in Alliance, NE.
Sister Genevieve is survived by her brother, Ray Cuny of Rapid City, SD.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, Wilson and Florence (Twiss) Cuny; sisters, Mary Jane Steele, Pearl Anderson, Velva Gonzalez, Elizabeth (Sissy) DeSersa, and Louise DeSersa; brothers, Alvin Cuny, Alphonso Cuny,
Orville Cuny, Robert Cuny and Willard Cuny.
Pallbearers will be Scott Cuny, Chris Cuny, Greg Steele, Darrell Mills, Jr., William Clifford, Jr., and Benjamin Catches.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Ray Cuny, Rocky Cuny, Loren DeSersa, Bill Underwood, Father Peter Klink, Davie and Carol Cuny, all her Franciscan Sisters, all her nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all of her friends and relatives.