Sister M. Juliana Sienko

SIENKO

Sister M. Juliana OSF 1913-2014



Sister M. Juliana Sienko entered life on November 7, 1913, and entered eternal life on October 29, 2014, just shy of her 101st birthday. The daughter of Thomas and Mary Sienko was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and came to Sylvania, Ohio to become a Sister of St. Francis in August, 1928. The Sienko's had five daughters and one son. Four of the girls entered the Sylvania convent: Sister M. Aquin, Sister M. Danielle, Sister M. Melanie and Sister M. Juliana. Sister Juliana is the last of the Sisters to die and will be buried in Porta Coeli cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds with her other three sister/Sisters.

Sister Juliana served the People of God for over 80 years in a variety of ministries, teaching being her longest and favorite ministry. She taught for 53 years, 23 years in elementary schools in Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota. She taught in secondary schools in Ohio and Michigan for 30 years and at Lourdes Junior College for one year. She taught French, Speech and Polish for 23 of those years at Gabriel Richard High School in Riverview, Michigan while living in an experimental, intercommunity convent.

Sister served in several other ministries for a total of 27 years. She was Assistant Postulancy Director in Sylvania for one year; was part of Vianney Retreat Center in Steubenville, Ohio for one year; was team member of Chiara Center in Sylvania for eight years; was a core member of the House of Prayer in Sylvania for 13 years; and entered Third Age Prayer Ministry at Rosary Care Center in 2010.

Sister Juliana was fluent in French and Polish, and besides teaching these languages, was often called upon to translate letters and documents for the Sisters and others who needed her skills. She received a B.A. degree from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota and a M.A. degree in French from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Sister also took post graduate studies in the Polish language in Lublin and Warsaw, Poland.

To those who knew her, Sister Juliana, was a gracious lady. She loved good food, fine wine and tasty desserts. Anyone who attended her 100th birthday celebration will attest to that. She was asked to select food for the big event and did so with gusto a year before the celebration. Brother Remigius Bullinger, CSC, who wrote a tribute to Sister Juliana, perhaps sums her up best when he wrote: "Juliana, gentle Sister, Quietly working in peace, Untouched, unscathed by worldly caprice, Always doing her share, Easing the burdens of others with no fanfare...Your uncluttered, neat, quiet way, Franciscan serendipity infusing With love transfusing all of us, Thanks to Sister Juliana."

There will be a Welcoming Home ceremony for Sister Juliana in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014, followed by Visitation until 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday, November 3, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be in Porta Coeli cemetery on the campus of the Sisters. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio.

Arrangements by Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio.