Sister Mary Andrew's Obituary

Sister Mary Andrew Wiercinski, 89, a Felician Sister for 71 years, died in Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, NY, on November 19, 2022. The youngest of five children, the former Leona Wiercinski was born on March 27, 1933, in Erie, PA, and was a member of St. Hedwig Parish. Sister entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 16, 1951, and professed her perpetual vows on August 16, 1959. After graduating from Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Sister Andrew earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Medaille (Mount St. Joseph) College.

Sister Mary Andrew began her teaching ministry as a Felician Sister as a kindergarten teacher at Transfiguration School, Buffalo, NY. This was the beginning of a forty-six-year ministry of loving dedication to God’s “littlest ones” in the Dioceses of Buffalo and Syracuse. Sensitive and caring, sister was an excellent primary grade teacher bringing her lessons to life with her storytelling skills and her innate ability to foster confidence, growth, and a love of learning in her students. Sister Andrew recognized her artistic gifts and talents early and used them generously throughout her ministry, always with sincere gratitude to God for his many blessings. Beginning as a teacher aide at Infant Jesus Day Care in Perry, NY, Sister Andrew also served as administrator and program director from 1973-1979. At the same time, she served as the local minister of Infant Jesus Convent.

Dunkirk, NY, became a “second home” to Sister Andrew. One of her earliest assignments (1966) was to St. Hyacinth Parish, now known as Blessed Mary Angela Parish. No matter where Sister ministered, she always seemed to return to Dunkirk to serve once more, adding up to a total of twenty-five years. Her last years of ministry, 2006-2022, were spent in Dunkirk. As religion teacher, visitor to the sick and homebound, and sacristan, Sister Andrew impacted the lives of many parishioners and children over the years.

Completing her education ministry in 1999, Sister Andrew continued to serve the Felician community at Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent as sacristan, receptionist, and craft program coordinator until she returned to Dunkirk in 2006. Sister cherished the gift of life and the vocation which allowed her to walk with Jesus each day giving thanks to God for the gifts of faith and perseverance. She drew her strength from her deep love of the Eucharist and prayer.

Sister Andrew is survived by her sister, Helen Fagan, and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Paul and Sophie (Piatkowski) Wiercinski, her brothers Bernard and Thomas, and her sister Florence (Bronislaus) Baniszewski.

A wake for Sister Andrew will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, from 3 to 5 PM followed by an Evening Prayer Service at 5 PM in the convent chapel.

There will also be a viewing on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, from 9:30-10:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in the convent chapel.

The Mass will be live-streamed only on the day of the Mass. Please click this URL to join:

https://feliciansisters.zoom.us/j/81138064991?pwd=N2xzSXdpN1ZmREdTcll4Y2N0emYyZz09

enter passcode: 104004

Interment will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY.

Memorials may be made to Felician Sisters, 600 Doat Street Cheektowaga, New York 14211.

Please share a picture in our online Photo Album or a favorite memory in our Guest Book here on Sister Andrew's Tribute page.