RIP to 11 Catholic Nuns from One Convent in Michigan who Died during the Pandemic of COVID-19


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/

Comments

Davidj said…
May the Lord take there souls into heaven and bless them with a eternal life in heaven may they rest in peace ����
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Unknown said…
Heaven has a lot of beautiful souls to praise God now.How happy they are to see Jesus and Our Lady ,what happiness they have now.There beauty will be missed on earth but be happy for them
Unknown said…
May the Lord give them eternal life
Unknown said…
May souls of the relegious servants the nuns and the priests rest in peace.
Joseph said…
May the souls of these Beloved Sisters RIP and be guided up to Heaven to be with Our Almighty Father.
Unknown said…
May their soul's rest in peace
Zosia said…
Eternal life in heaven grant them Lord. Most of them Polish nuns. Is there any left? In Jesus name 🙏🙏
SNHoro said…
May their souls rest in eternal peace
Will Smith, OSB said…
May their memory be eternal! Rest well, Dear Sisters. Jesu, mercy. Mary, help.
Scott said…
The souls of the just are in the hands of God. Rest in eternal peace.
Anonymous said…
More saints in heaven to pray for us. RIP
please dear sisters pray for my vision! After spending so many years in God's
service I know you have special places in the heart of God!
Unknown said…
Eternal rest grant them OLord and let perpetual light shine upon them and their souls RIP Amen
Micheal said…
As sad as it is to hear about nuns passing away (I think of my Grandma who use to be a nun), a headline like this is what causes wide-spread panic. The article states: "...five of their deaths were linked to COVID-19. The other deaths are not yet confirmed to have been linked."

Four of those nuns were in their 90s—including one that was 99 years old. Four were in their 80s, two in their 70s and one, tragically, only 69. But most won't read those details, and instead will see this headline as an opportunity to spread fear instead of facts.
Unknown said…
May their souls rest in eternal peace
Unknown said…
Fear instead of facts? Which facts? 80000 dead in US? Potus playing golf fundraising and holding rallies while Italy and Spain were exploding with the virus?
Manuel said…
I was taught by the Felician Sisters at St. Adalbert's School in Elizabeth, New Jersey from the 1960s until 1971. May the souls of these sisters rest in God's eternal presence.
Unknown said…
How very sad. I had Felicians in grade school at St. John Vianney in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The ones I had, wore a different habit. God bless them.
Unknown said…
My prayers go up for these sistes, their community and families. As a religious brother myself, I know the heart ache this causes in community.
Unknown said…
My thoughts exactly
Anonymous said…
I was educated by Felician nuns at Pomona Catholic High school, Pomona in the early '60s. It is disappointing that nuns aren't well taken care of in their older years, unlike priests who are coddled by women in the church membership. The Carmelite sisters in Alhambra and Duarte nurse their elderly nuns with care and respect. They are primarily a nursing order. Also the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, who educated me at Immaculate Heart College, Hollywood struggle very hard to take care of their aged and infirm. Again Cardinal Mcintyre did everything possible to destroy the order...He turned doners away from the college and the progressive nuns and took many of their properties away


Gregory Stepanek said…
Each one of these beloved sisters leaves behind a truly wonderful legacy, enriching the lives of so many throughout their lives. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Unknown said…
Handmaid of Christ.
Unknown said…
I was "raised" by Felician sisters. I thank God everyday for everything they taught me. He only takes the best home to Him.
Unknown said…
May God remember them in His heavenly arena, you have fought a good war rip
Denise Amato said…
RIP sisters God will take you and put his loving arms around Amen
May the souls of the departed nuns rest in perfect peace


MsgValadez said…
May you find peace with our Lord. Please pray for us sisters and the church you loved.
Unknown said…
May the good God rest their souls in eternal peace. Amen.
Unknown said…
May the Lord rest their souls in eternal life Amen
smdross said…
A point very well made thank you.
Anonymous said…
I know they are with you now Lord Jesus. Comfort those who are left on this earth for a while longer. Strengthen them in their grief, and give then joy in te memories they created with these Sisters.

Amen
Anonymous said…
May God embrace their soul in his Eternal Kingdom. I was raised by the Canidian Missionary of the Immaculate Conception. I still have a wonderful memories of them.
Unknown said…
May God rest there souls in eternal peace Amen
Unknown said…
May God grant them eternal rest. Amen
DMB said…
free choice
DMB said…
FREE CHOICE
Unknown said…
������️����
Unknown said…
🙏🏻🙏🏻😇
Anonymous said…
Please intercede for the mentally ill who are thrown on the street (in the name of justice) arrested for trespassing, and then treated abominably.
Unknown said…
Amen! God Bless you
Janice C Claussen said…
May they all rest in peace.
Unknown said…
One of the most saddest stories related to the virus May they all rest in peace.
Anonymous said…
May the angels lead them into Paradise!
sherry1956 said…
Eternal Rest Grant into them OH Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all departed through the Mercy of God Rest in Peace. Amen
tgBear Growler said…
I am now an Atheist. I was however taught by one really great nun in elementary school (Sister Marie Theresa in the mid to late '70s at Ascension School in Minneapolis MN). That one great nun is probably the only reason I still have respect for the Catholic faith. I too fear that nuns that have become seniors are not well enough taken care of in large part because women are not as revered as men are in the Catholic faith. This is a pity. Most of us who attended school and/or have been cared for by nuns would hopefully agree that the nuns are the ones that do the work, the priests are the ones that receive the credit.

I hope each of these ladies were able to pass with dignity and with the least amount of pain and discomfort possible. I do hope hospice was granted to them as I have seen them granted it to my Mother.
Unknown said…
May all souls rest in peace in heaven,amen
jenny coops said…
Amen.
Continue Sleeping in Peace.
Unknown said…
My their soul rest in peace
Susan Paz said…
Such dedicated Sisters, giving their lives to the service of others, and staying true to their vocations! If anyone is, they're now enjoying their eternal reward in Paradise!
niko said…
God loved them than us. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Chantal Weaver said…
May these sisters rip and fly with there well deserved wings!
God Bless them and welcome to heaven.
Music Giants said…
So sorry for this loss. :( Hopefully they can find another one who could perform the church organ.

----
Music Giants
GEB said…
Heroines at peace
john bicknell said…
Well done, thou good and faithful servants! enter heaven where God has prepared a place for you.
Unknown said…
The Lord God has received these awesome women who have committed their lives to him with love and peace. We who are left miss them but are glorified in there love for our Lord God.
Unknown said…
Qué Dios las tenga en la Gloria
Anonymous said…
May their Memories live in Eternity.....
Unknown said…
May their soul rest in internal peace
Unknown said…
May they rest in everlasting peace.
Unknown said…
God bless their souls. RIP with Our Lord. ♡
Unknown said…
Sadly it doesn't seem like you read the headlines. It didn't say they died of COVID-19 it said "during the pandemic of COVID-19" which is a fact. The pandemic is STILL GOING ON!!
Unknown said…
May the Lord rest their souls in eternal peace
Unknown said…
May these true and faithful servants rest in peace. God bless u for all that u did. So sorry for the world's loss.
Ingolf said…
I am a bit confused here by all the comments. Should these nuns go to heaven or should they rest in peace? Is it a happy moment or a sad?
michael said…
May their souls rest in peace with christ
Unknown said…
they are with Christ.
Unknown said…
I want to Give Thanks for their Loving Service rendered. I have no doubts that they are with the "Spirit in the Sky" (find it in Youtube and listen) !!! God Bless Us All !!!