Catholic News World originally brought you this sad story in May. However, CNS and NCR now report that 3 more religious sisters from the Order of the Felicians have died. Sister Mary Madeleine Dolan, 82, died May 10 and Sister Mary Danatha Suchyta, 98, one of the sisters thought to have survived the illness, died from its effects June 27. Also, Sr. Mary Ramona (Florence) Borkowski, 93, Lodi, New Jersey (April 18). May they Rest in Peace.May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
The Felician Sisters’ community in Livonia, Michigan, lost 13 sisters to COVID-19 (the 14th was a Felician in New Jersey). This community is home to 44 Felician sisters and five members of other congregations who are students at nearby Madonna University. In addition to the 13 Sisters who died in Michigan, another 17 were infected but have recovered.
Original Post from early May:
One convent of Felician Sisters saw the Deaths of 11 of their Sisters during the month of April while the Coronavirus Pandemic was spreading. At least five of their deaths were linked to COVID-19. The other deaths are not yet confirmed to have been linked.
These Sisters belonged to a convent which was started 80 years ago. They served all groups of people in education, and in care for the sick. They were also devoted to the poor.
The following information was provided by the Felician Sisters of North America on the 11 women:
Sister Mary Luiza Wawryzniak
Sister Mary Luiza Wawryzniak was a Felician sister for 80 of her 99 years. A native of South Bend, Indiana, she joined the order after high school, where she served in the convent caring for Sisters and in prayer ministry.
She died on April 10.
Sister Celine Marie Lesinski, 92
Born in Detroit, Sister Celine Marie Lesinski was a Felician for 71 years.
Organist, librarian and director of volunteers at Angela Hospice Home Care.
She died on Easter.
Sister Mary Estelle Printz, 95
A Detroit native, Sister Mary Estelle Printz formally began her journey as a Felician Sister in 1946, professing her final vows in 1954.
She died Easter.
Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski, 73
Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski, a Detroit native, was a Felician sister in Livonia for 54 years. She formally joined the Felicians in 1965, professing final vows in 1973.
She died on April 15.
Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski, 93
Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski was an educator for 60 years — serving as an elementary and middle school teacher in 13 schools in Michigan and as a director of religious education.
She died on April 17.
Sister Mary Clarence (Adeline) Borkoski, 83
An educator for 48 years, Sister Mary Clarence Borkoski had been taught by the Felician Sisters when she was in elementary school. She made her final vows in 1963. She earned her bachelor’s and master's degrees in education, retiring in 2008.
She died on April 20.
Sister Rose Mary Wolak, 86
Sister Rose Mary Wolak enrolled at Madonna College with her twin sister, later completing an English degree with a minor in journalism and a secondary teaching certificate. She formally joined the Felicians in 1955, pronouncing final vows in 1963.
She died on April 21.
Sister Mary Janice (Margaret) Zolkowski, 86
In addition to a life in education, Sister Mary Janice Zolkowski authored the 586-page book, “Felician Sisters of Livonia, Michigan: First Province in America” as she also served as administrative assistant to the president of St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake from 1978 to 1982.
She died on April 22.
Sister Mary Ann (Fernanda) Alice Gradowski, 73
Sister Mary Ann Alice Gradowski was an educator for 36 years, having been taught by Felicians.
She entered the Felicians in 1964, professing final vows in 1973. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Madonna University and a master's degree from Eastern Michigan.
She died on April 25.
Sister Victoria Marie Indyk, 69
A registered nurse and a professor, Sister Victoria Marie Indyk was devoted to the Felician Mission in Haiti, where she led frequent mission trips of nursing students.
A Detroit native, she entered the Felician community after high school graduation in 1969 and professed final vows in 1978.
She died on April 26.
Sister Mary Martinez (Virginia) Rozek, 87
Sister Mary Martinez (Virginia) Rozek taught elementary, middle and high school at several schools in Detroit and, with a degree in French, also taught foreign languages at Madonna. She was principal at schools in Garden City, Detroit and Hamtramck, as well as in Pomona, California.
She died on April 28.
Edited from Michigan Health Watch - www.bridgemi.com
and www.feliciansistersna.org/
These Sisters belonged to a convent which was started 80 years ago. They served all groups of people in education, and in care for the sick. They were also devoted to the poor.
The following information was provided by the Felician Sisters of North America on the 11 women:
Sister Mary Luiza Wawryzniak
Sister Mary Luiza Wawryzniak was a Felician sister for 80 of her 99 years. A native of South Bend, Indiana, she joined the order after high school, where she served in the convent caring for Sisters and in prayer ministry.
She died on April 10.
Sister Celine Marie Lesinski, 92
Born in Detroit, Sister Celine Marie Lesinski was a Felician for 71 years.
Organist, librarian and director of volunteers at Angela Hospice Home Care.
She died on Easter.
Sister Mary Estelle Printz, 95
A Detroit native, Sister Mary Estelle Printz formally began her journey as a Felician Sister in 1946, professing her final vows in 1954.
She died Easter.
Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski, 73
Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski, a Detroit native, was a Felician sister in Livonia for 54 years. She formally joined the Felicians in 1965, professing final vows in 1973.
She died on April 15.
Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski, 93
Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski was an educator for 60 years — serving as an elementary and middle school teacher in 13 schools in Michigan and as a director of religious education.
She died on April 17.
Sister Mary Clarence (Adeline) Borkoski, 83
An educator for 48 years, Sister Mary Clarence Borkoski had been taught by the Felician Sisters when she was in elementary school. She made her final vows in 1963. She earned her bachelor’s and master's degrees in education, retiring in 2008.
She died on April 20.
Sister Rose Mary Wolak, 86
Sister Rose Mary Wolak enrolled at Madonna College with her twin sister, later completing an English degree with a minor in journalism and a secondary teaching certificate. She formally joined the Felicians in 1955, pronouncing final vows in 1963.
She died on April 21.
Sister Mary Janice (Margaret) Zolkowski, 86
In addition to a life in education, Sister Mary Janice Zolkowski authored the 586-page book, “Felician Sisters of Livonia, Michigan: First Province in America” as she also served as administrative assistant to the president of St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake from 1978 to 1982.
She died on April 22.
Sister Mary Ann (Fernanda) Alice Gradowski, 73
Sister Mary Ann Alice Gradowski was an educator for 36 years, having been taught by Felicians.
She entered the Felicians in 1964, professing final vows in 1973. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Madonna University and a master's degree from Eastern Michigan.
She died on April 25.
Sister Victoria Marie Indyk, 69
A registered nurse and a professor, Sister Victoria Marie Indyk was devoted to the Felician Mission in Haiti, where she led frequent mission trips of nursing students.
A Detroit native, she entered the Felician community after high school graduation in 1969 and professed final vows in 1978.
She died on April 26.
Sister Mary Martinez (Virginia) Rozek, 87
Sister Mary Martinez (Virginia) Rozek taught elementary, middle and high school at several schools in Detroit and, with a degree in French, also taught foreign languages at Madonna. She was principal at schools in Garden City, Detroit and Hamtramck, as well as in Pomona, California.
She died on April 28.
Edited from Michigan Health Watch - www.bridgemi.com
and www.feliciansistersna.org/
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