Sister Mary Rosalma Pawlak, CSSF

Sister Mary Rosalma Pawlak, 98, a Felician Sister for 76 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  The former Josephine Pawlak was born on February 22, 1920 in Morris Run, PA. She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters on October 25, 1942, and professed perpetual vows on August 6, 1950.  She was a member of St. Casimir Parish, Elmira, NY, and graduated from Elmira Free Academy.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Mount St. Joseph Teachers (Medaille) College, Buffalo, NY. She also received a Diploma from Rochester Dental Dispensary and a New York State License as a Dental Hygienist.

Sister Rosalma began her ministry at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children in Cheektowaga, NY, serving the children as a dental hygienist.  She served in this capacity for a total of 27 years while assisting as a chauffeur and directing a group of boys. She also spent an additional 7 years at the home serving as the administrator.  Besides enjoying her ministry, Sister Rosalma loved the children at the home and was very kind and caring to them.

Sandwiched between her years at the home, Sister Rosalma was a Religious Education Coordinator at several parishes in Boonville, NY. Her next mission was at Guardian Angel Day Care Center in Buffalo where she served as a part-time teacher, a part-time office aide, a social worker and an administrator.  In 1989, Sister Rosalma began her special ministry to the sisters at Villa Maria Infirmary in Buffalo as a chauffeur.  She spent 15 years as a full-time chauffeur and continued as a part-time chauffeur for a few more years.  Besides fulfilling her main responsibilities, Sister Rosalma always managed to find other things around the building that needed attention and in her own unassuming way took care of them.  She took it upon herself to take special care the area by the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on the convent grounds for many years.

In July of 2006, when several sisters from India came to live with the Felician Sisters, she helped them adapt to the American way of life.  Besides being a faithful woman religious, she loved to make everything around her neat, appealing and pleasant, hoping that the sisters would enjoy the atmosphere.  As was her pattern, she continued to assist wherever she was needed until her health would not permit her to do so.  Sister Rosalma became a patient in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on January 6, 2011.  She celebrated her 75thanniversary in Religious Life with four other Jubilarians on May 28, 2017.  This Jubilee was very special for her because it helped her appreciate all the fond memories of her family and of her life with the Felician Sisters.

Sister Rosalma is survived by her niece, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, the late Frank and Josephine (Wosicka) Pawlak, her brothers, Leo, Alzy, Vincent and Joseph Pawlak and her sisters, SM Adorata Pawlak, CSSF, Louise Lepkowski, Martha Przygoda, Ann O’Herron,  Stella Bush and Lucy Pawlak.

A wake for Sister Rosalma will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Conventon Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday, November 30, 2018 from 2 to 5 p.m.   An Evening Prayer Service will  take  place on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel (Villa Maria, 600 Doat Street Cheektowaga, NY).  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Convent Chapel. 

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

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