Sister Cecilia Marie Vasquez, OSF
August 15, 1945 – January 9, 2008
Born in El Paso, Texas, one of 11 children of Jose Vasquez and Paula Esparaza, Sister Cecilia Marie entered religious life in 1966. She studied for the medical profession at Maryville College and graduated from Webster College with a Masters in counseling.
Sister Cecilia Marie served as a nurse in St. Louis, Missouri, Green Springs, Ohio and El Paso, Texas. She taught in Trinidad, Colorado,
St. Louis, Missouri and El Paso Texas. She also counseled women and children of domestic violence in Odessa-Midland area in Texas.
Sister possessed artistic talent and used it to promote the arts in the countless activities she organized for her students to promote love and care for those in need.
Sister volunteered endless hours for the Immigration Detention Center and gave of herself to all her students, school parents, teachers and all with whom she came in contact.
Sister Cecilia gifted her family, religious community and friends with her ability to welcome everyone. For Sister Cecilia, every person is worthy to be loved and cared.
After a long and courageous battle against cancer, Sister passed away peacefully with her family and our Sisters by her side.
Sister Mary Joan Sierzega, OSF
July 26, 1922 – January 28, 2008
Sister Mary Joan was the fourth of six children born to John and Elizabeth Sierzega, Polish immigrants who settled in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
In 1950, Sister realized her call to religious life and joined the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help because she had been taught by our Sisters at St. Joseph School.
Sister Mary Joan’s 30 year ministry as Food Service Supervisor at St. Francis of Oak Ridge Hospital (St. Francis Health Care Centre) touched hundreds of patients. She was a wonderful cook and baker; skills she used to bring variety to meal planning and pleasure to the patients. Sister Mary Joan was well-known throughout the communities surrounding St. Francis of Oak Ridge Hospital for her creative party planning for meetings and seasonal holidays.
In 1985 Sister returned to St. Louis and served her community as Food Manager at the Motherhouse in Ferguson for six years. Subsequently, Sister Mary Joan did clerical work at Villa St. Joseph Child Care Center in Ferguson. She loved working with the pre-school age children, and they and their parents loved Sister in return.
Sister Mary Helen Mroczkowski, OSF
April 16, 1916 – February 22, 2008
Sister Mary Helen was the second oldest of 14 children of Polish immigrants, Witold and Helen (Cendrowski) Mroczkowski. She attended St. Casimir School where she was deeply influenced by our Sisters, particularly Sister Martha.
Her education ministry encompassed teaching all grade levels from first to eighth in addition to serving as principal for four years. During this ministry, she traveled to nine states—her way of fulfilling the mission of our foundresses that there is “no place too far.”
A huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Sister Mary Helen loved baseball going back to the St. Louis “Gashouse Gang.” One of our Sisters recalls Sister Mary Helen letting her sixth through eighth grade students in Sioux City, Iowa, listen to the radio when the Cardinals played in the 1964 World Series.
Throughout her vocation, adherence to the rule was her guide to a simple lifestyle and a basis for her prayerfulness. Always kind and gracious to others, Sister Mary Helen knew that all was gift from the hand of a loving God.
Sister Paulette Dyrda, OSF
May 27, 1913 – March 14, 2008
Upon hearing of Sister Paulette’s death one of our Sisters said, “For many years I have said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be like Sister Paulette.’ She was such a dear and gentle soul.”
Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the oldest of seven children of Mary and Michael Dyrda, Sister Paulette came to the Franciscan Sisters, at the young age of 14, like many young girls in her home parish, through the influence of the school principal Sister Cunegunda.
An educator for 66 years, Sister Paulette was beloved by her students whom she taught over the years in grades third to eighth. She also served as principal for more than twenty years.
Sister Paulette’s humor and love of life was shown through her quick wit, wonderful chuckle and dimpled smile.
Sister was proud of her Polish heritage and was fluent in Polish—a benefit for her Sisters in community who frequently called upon her when they needed something translated from Polish to English. Even in her last months, she went to the deathbeds of three Franciscan Sisters and spent time singing Polish hymns to them. Now, she has joined these Sisters, her sister, Sister Boniface, and her cousin, Sister Teresa, in heaven.