+Sister Mary Eulalia Kopydlowski
Sister Jane Mary (Stanislaus) Prostko died suddenly at the Compassionate Care Center in Mt. Lebanon, PA, on August 21, 2008, at the age of 86, in the 68th year of her religious life.
Her parents Theophil and Anella, on emigrating from Poland, settled in Mt. Carmel, PA and became members of Our Lady of Consolation Parish. Upon completing Mt. Carmel High School, Sister Jane Mary, the fifth of seven children, entered the Felician Sisters. She received the religious habit in 1941, professed first vows in 1942, and made her final profession in 1948.
In preparation for her professional work, Sister Jane Mary pursued a teaching career by earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education from Duquesne University. Her life was devoted to the education of children and administration in elementary schools in the Pittsburgh, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Cleveland and Altoona-Johnstown Dioceses. For fourteen years she also served as a local minister.
During her eleven years as principal of Northern Cambria Catholic School she was awarded the diocesan distinction of the Prince Gallitzin Cross for outstanding service to the Church of Altoona-Johnstown. What her pastor, Father Ronald V. Osinski said of her on that occasion was a testimony to her whole life, “Her prayerful spirit and exemplary dedication to school, parish, and community have helped make the Felician presence in the local community one to be much admired and respected.”
Sister Jane Mary was currently devoted to pastoral care of the sick in Divine Redeemer parish, in her hometown of Mt. Carmel. It is from there that Sister came to the Provincial House to make her annual retreat in July. It was already noticeable that her health was compromised. On August 1st, after seeing a doctor, tests confirmed the return of cancer.
Though sudden, Sister Jane Mary’s death was not unexpected since the diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma sent her body spiraling into rapid deterioration within two weeks. Sister declined chemotherapy treatment and manifested an admirable resignation to her fate that could only be the fruit of a lifetime of surrendering to God’s will.
In the compassionate presence of hospice caregivers and Sister Theresa Marie Klimek, Sister Jane Mary drew her last breath and slipped peacefully into eternity to celebrate her feast-day that began on earth.
Reverend Richard Conboy, chaplain, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial on August 25. Her body was laid to rest among those of her sisters in the Felician Cemetery.
Sister Mary Damascene, Leona Foryt, a member of the Felician Sisters for 63 years, died in Westmoreland Hospital on her feast-day, December 4, 2007 of cardio-pulmonary arrest at the age of 82.
Sister Mary Damascene was a native of New Kensington and was the seventh of eight children born to the late John and Salomea Foryt. She entered the Felician Sisters in 1944 after graduation from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, Coraopolis. She was invested in the habit of the order in 1945 and made her first profession of vows in 1946. In 1953, Sister Mary Damascene pronounced her perpetual vows.
Sister pursued courses to prepare her for the ministry of education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Steubenville College (now Franciscan University), a Masters degree from Duquesne University, and a Master of Arts in Sacred Doctrine from the Pontifical Institute Regina Mundi in Rome, Italy.
She taught in elementary schools staffed by the Felician Sisters in the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Harrisburg, and Cleveland. She served as principal at St. Germaine School, Bethel Park, and St. Stanislaus School in Ambridge. She also served as local minister in those convents and later in the provincial house from 1974-1977. In 1971 Sister was elected the provincial vicar and served in that capacity for twelve years. In 1977 she undertook the additional duties of provincial treasurer, a post she filled with distinction until 1995.
Sister Mary Damascene served as a receptionist at St. Anne Home, Greensburg, for two years before returning to the provincial house, where she served in various capacities until illness forced her to transfer to St. Anne Home as a resident in 2007.
Throughout her life, Sister Mary Damascene manifested an exterior of peace and joy that no doubt radiated from an inner disposition that was nourished by the Eucharist, many hours of private and communal adoration, and by living in the presence of God.
As a Director of Juniorate programs, Sister Mary Damascene conducted inter-provincial second novitiates. She influenced the young Felicians by her kind and practical way of dealing with religious life. She touched their hearts from her own spiritual depth.
After a long and fruitful life, Sister Mary Damascene slipped into eternity. A Mass of Christian Burial was con-celebrated in the Provincial House Chapel by Reverend Richard Conboy, chaplain and Reverend Harry Bielewicz. Sisters and family members accompanied Sister Mary Damascene to her final resting place in the Felician Cemetery, Moon Township.
+Sister Mary Eulalia Kopydlowski
Sister Mary Eulalia, Agnes Kopydlowski, died after a brief illness on January 18, 2008 in Sewickley Valley Hospital at the age of 94 years, 78 of which were spent in religious life.
The fifth girl of twelve children born to Casimir and Agnes Kopydlowski, she spent her formative years at St. Josephat Parish (now Prince of Peace) on the South Side of Pittsburgh. Responding to the call to religious life, it was from there that she entered the Felician Sisters in 1930. In 1932 she made her first profession and then, in 1938, sealed that commitment through final vows.
To prepare herself for the teaching ministry that spanned 50 years, Sister received a Bachelor’s degree in Education at Mt. Mercy College (now Carlow University) and a Master’s degree from Duquesne University. During her ministry in the classroom she taught children in the dioceses of Greensburg, Wheeling, Altoona-Johnstown, Harrisburg, Erie, Pittsburgh, and in Ohio.
In addition to her teaching positions, Sister Mary Eulalia served as principal and local minister at St. Ladislaus Parish, Wheeling, WV from 1973-77 and at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Barnesboro (now North Cambria), PA from 1980-82.
In 1994 Sister retired to the provincial house and was engaged in supportive ministries. However, she remained a zealous apostle for the faith. She was instrumental in bringing several adults to baptism and/or full communion in the Church. By her constant encouragement and offering of spiritual reading material, Sister also brought people back to the deeper practice of their faith. That zeal flowed from her great love for the Eucharist. She was able to enjoy several periods of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day.
On January 18th, the day of her death, the Church proclaimed in the Communion antiphon of the Mass: “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Sister was of small stature, but was gifted with a strong constitution so that she could enjoy life to the full, even in her advanced years. May she continue to enjoy life to the full for all eternity.
The funeral liturgy was celebrated on the frigid morning of January 21, the feast of St. Agnes, in the provincial house chapel. Reverend Richard Conboy, chaplain, con-celebrated the Mass with Reverend Edward J. Trzeciakowski, a son of St. Josephat Parish. Helen Juzwiak and Monica Lion, two of her five living siblings, nieces and nephews, her devoted friends, Felician Associate Peggy Mauro and her husband Nick, were among those present with her Felician family to bid Sister farewell. Internment followed in the Felician Cemetery, Moon Township.
Sister Louise Marie, Louise Olsofka, a member of the Felician Sisters for 44 years took the hand of Sister Death on June 11, 2007 in the provincial house while surrounded by the prayers of her sisters. She was in the 62nd year of life.
A native of Oil City, Sister Louise Marie was the third child of four born to the late Nicholas and Angela (Nellie Woloszyn) Olsofka, who were life-time members of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. In 1963, after graduation from Oil City Senior High School, Sister Louise left her home, parents, and three siblings to enter the Felician Sisters in Coraopolis. She made her first vows in 1965 and final vows in 1971.
From 1966 to 1980, Sister Louise Marie was a teacher in the classrooms of both grade schools and high schools in the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg, PA and Cleveland and Steubenville, Ohio. She also taught high school in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1972-1976. Sister was assistant principal at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School from 1995 to 1998.
Having taught high school students for eleven years, Sister Louise Marie’s work with adolescents broadened as she embraced youth ministry at St. Louise de Marillac Parish from 1980 to 1987. Her charism of working with young people expanded again when she became part of the Diocesan Office of Adolescent Formation and Youth Ministry from 1988-1995. Sister was gifted and educated for this role. While teaching at an international Catholic school in Brazil, sister studied theology at Pope Pius XI Institute in Sao Paolo. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from LaRoche College and a Masters of Religious Education degree from Duquesne University. In 1981, Sister Louise became the first person in the diocese of Pittsburgh to earn certification as a Youth Minister after completing courses at Duquesne University. Her sincere and deep interest in the lives of youth blossomed into programs and events that elicited the best from the young people whose lives she touched.
From 1998 to 2005, Sister Louise Marie lent her positive and affirming influence to the roles of Vocation Director, Affiliate Director, and Associate Director. As was typical of her, Sister Louise Marie poured time, energy, and creativity into these programs that expanded them to new heights and depths.
In December of 2005, when Sister Louise Marie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she clearly lived by the words of St. Paul, “…we do not lose heart.” (2 Cor. 4:16) She continued to be present to her beloved community and to minister with a hope that enabled her to make incredible contributions to tasks at hand. The following December, Sister Louise Marie experienced a definite setback. She was informed that the chemotherapy treatments were no longer helpful and that the cancer had metastasized to the colon. Her physical decline was swift, yet with a miraculous spiritual energy she confirmed the truth of more words of St. Paul, “though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Sister continued to touch hearts and lives from the confines of her small room at Vincentian Nursing Home.
On May 31st, Sister Louise Marie came to the provincial house to receive the comfort measures of hospice and to be surrounded by the consolation of her sisters praying for her. Less than two weeks after her arrival, she died peacefully at about 11:00AM, while the sisters were praying the chaplet of mercy. Her accomplishments were many, but her legacy to her sisters is her passion for the mission of Christ, the mission of the Felician Sisters; the spiritual renewal of the world which she lived until the moment of death.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 15, 2007 in the convent chapel. Numerous priests, friends, and family members joined the Felicians in paying their final respects. Reverend Richard Conboy, chaplain, was celebrant with 13 priests con-celebrating. Internment followed in the Felician Cemetery, Moon Township.