Sr. M. Alexine Machowicz Fssj

Sister Mary Alexine (Celestine) Machowicz, died peacefully on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Convent in the 93rd year of life and the 72nd year of religious life.
Mary Alexine Machowicz was born on May 18, 1932, in Detroit, MI to the late Alexander and the late Martha (nee Kosch) Machowicz. On January 25, 1952, she became a postulant and on July 22, 1956, Sister Alexine professed her final vows.
Sister Alexine received a bachelor's degree in education from Cardinal Stritch College, Detroit, MI. Throughout her religious life, Sr. Alexine served as a caring teacher to God's youngest people and later in life, to God's most vulnerable, the elderly. Over her 38 years as a teacher, she taught in the Milwaukee area at St. Josephat and St. Charles Borromeo. In the Detroit area she took her teaching skills to St. Hedwig Elementary and St. Sebastian. In the Buffalo area she served students at Holy Innocents Day Care, Sacred Heart, and St. Barnabas and St. Stanislaus, Chicopee, MA. When Sr. Alexine completed her teaching career, she began a second career of assisting the elderly. She served as the lively and encouraging Activities Director at Marycrest Manor, Livonia, MI and then as a volunteer pastoral visitor at Marycrest Manor and St. Damian and St. Genevieve parishes, Livonia, MI. before joining her Sisters in the FSSJ Care Community in 2018 to serve in the ministry of prayer and presence.
Sr. Alexine was a creative, gracious and joyful servant of God, known for her devotion to Our Lady and daily Holy Hour. Faces lit up when she entered a room. Her students and the elderly never knew what she would direct them in for any given day, but they knew it would be enjoyable and heartfelt, and it might include homemade bread! Sr. Alexine had the soul of a poet. She often wrote verses and poems to express and remember momentous events in her life including ministry changes, anniversaries and spiritual insights. Her gratitude to God for her vocation and community life were often subjects of her prayer and writings. Sr. Alexine cherished her dear family and her Polish heritage in addition to the fun of polka dancing and supporting her hometown Detroit teams. At St. Francis Park she spread joy with her decorated walker, tape recorder with Polkas or Patriotic hymns, and liturgical or seasonal decorations at the nurses' station.
Sister Alexine is survived by her brothers, Bernard (late Celine) and Timothy (Betty), her beloved nieces, nephews, and sisters in community. She is predeceased by her parents, Alexander and Martha (nee Kosch) Machowicz, as well as her siblings and their spouses, Alexander (Rose), Eugene (Joanne, Virginia, Patricia), Frederick (Barbara), and Kenneth (Susan).
Visitation Friday, July 18, 2025 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary at the Dearborn Chapel of Voran Funeral Home, 23701 Ford Road. (313) 278-5100. In state Saturday 9:30 a.m. with a 10:00 a.m. Mass of the Resurrection to follow at Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn. Interment St. Hedwig Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph 5229 South Park Ave, Hamburg NY 14075. Please share memories and/or leave condolences on Sister Alexine's guestbook on her tribute wall.