Sister Barbara Ann Vavreck SSJ

1937 - 2025

Sister Barbara Ann Vavreck, SSJ, 87, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on January 15, 2025, in Erie, in the 70th year of her religious life.

She was born on December 11, 1937, in Philipsburg, PA, to the late Andrew and Barbara (Rusnak) Vavreck.

She attended Hawk Run Elementary School and graduated from the former Morris Township High School in Morrisdale, PA. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on August 31, 1955, from her home parish, St. Peter and Paul in Hawk Run, PA, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1961.

She continued her education and received a BS in Home Economics from Villa Maria College, Erie, in 1971 and an MA in Home Economics from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Indiana, PA, in 1975. She also earned a PA State Certified Nutritionist Certificate from IUP and a Food Protection Certification from the Erie County Department of Health.

She ministered as a teacher in several Diocesan schools, including St. John and Our Lady of Peace Schools in Erie and Bradford Central Christian School in Bradford, PA. She was a housemother and dental assistant at St. Joseph's Home for Children, a food service manager at Saint Vincent Hospital, and a purchasing director at Saint Mary's Home of Erie.

Sister Barbara Ann received the American Society for Hospital Food Service Administrators award in 1992 and the Manchester's Who's Who of Professionals award in 2005. She was a board member of the Saint Vincent Hospital Auxiliary and served as president of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (ASHFSA). She also served as second vice-president of the Saint Vincent Hospital Pediatric Society and volunteered at Erie DAWN.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers: Andrew, Joseph, and Benedict Vavreck; five sisters: Elizabeth Kushner, Barbara Sedlak, Josephine Vavreck, Agnes Kolosky, and Marie Tarbay; and an infant sister, Anne.

She is survived by a sister, Bernadette Johnson, of Houtzdale, Pa.; a brother, Martin Vavreck, of Ambler, Pa.; numerous nieces and nephews; and her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Friends may visit the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, on Thursday, January 23, beginning at 1:00 p.m., when a prayer service will be held and continuing until 3:45 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 4:00 p.m. The Mass will be livestreamed at ttps://www.youtube.com/user/SSJErie/live.

The interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Erie.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Mission & Ministries Foundation, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506-1249. The Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc is handling arrangements.