In loving Memory

A native of Syracuse, New York, Sister Kathy was a member of Holy Trinity Parish and a graduate of Assumption Academy. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in September 1968.

Sister received a bachelor’s degree in education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College. In 2001, LeMoyne College in Syracuse awarded Sister Kathleen an honorary doctorate for her service to the terminally ill.

Sister Kathy began her 52 years in service as an elementary school teacher in New York and New Jersey. When she returned to Syracuse, she served as Pastoral Minister at St. Joseph Hospital Health Center, followed by a four-year term as General Secretary for the Sisters. At this point, she felt a strong call to care for the terminally ill and their families, and in 1991, she founded Francis House for the terminally ill. 

Sister Kathleen also worked in Community Service as the Director of Franciscan Sponsored Ministries and later as the Franciscan Villa Construction coordinator. In addition, she was a Pastoral Minister at All Saints’ Parish in Syracuse and finally was Resource Center Coordinator for her beloved Francis House. 

Her ongoing compassion for the terminally ill inspired Sister Kathy to work as a member of the Aids Housing Coalition. She also remained in regular contact with people who manage three of the Subsaharan Hospices. In addition, Sister was engaged in the ministry of preaching in local parishes, giving public presentations on Franciscanism and other spiritual/religious matters, spiritual direction, and serving on the Franciscan Pilgrimage Staff.

Some of Sister Kathleen’s awards include the Syracuse Post Standard Woman of Achievement; Governor’s Award to Outstanding Women; Catholic Charities Bishop’s Medallion; Eckerd Salute to Women National Award; 2003 Women of Distinction for NY State 50th District honor; 2003 Northeast Community Center Northside Hall of Fame and 2005 Northside Walkway of Fame. 

Sister will be remembered for her responsiveness to the needs of her community and the Church, her creative spirit, her ability to relate to others on all levels, her deep appreciation of her Franciscan Vocation, and her spirit of thankfulness for God’s gifts. Those she leaves behind will miss her love of life, graciousness, and grand sense of humor.

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A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sister Grace Diethorn entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale. She graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in Education and embarked on a ministry teaching middle and high school students that would last more than 30 years.

In 1982, Sister Grace left teaching to care for her elderly father for five years. This experience prepared her for her ministry in the Health Care Unit at Mt. Alvernia, where she cared for her elderly and sick Sisters in community. Her devotion to their care prompted her Sisters to choose her to receive the 2004 Peacemaker Award given by the National Franciscan Federation. 

Called to challenge injustice and to build right relationships, Sister Grace was an active member of Pittsburgh area Pax Christi, the international Catholic peace movement organization. For nine years, Sister attended monthly meetings and took part in annual actions for peace and justice. She expressed her creative side by collecting poems, quotes, short stories and inspirational readings and placing them in beautiful scrapbooks that she shared with Sisters and congregational staff. 

Sister Grace will be remembered as a woman of grace who spread joy wherever she went and blessed everyone with her presence. Those who knew her best agree that she achieved her personal desire to “live a gentle lifestyle.”

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Sister Mary Theresa Leitem entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Millvale, Pennsylvania, at the age of 18 from her home parish in Butler, Pennsylvania. Her first ministry was in foodservice, serving her sisters living in Pittsburgh, Puerto Rico and Milwaukee. After 17 years, she felt a call from God to help his people in need, especially the elderly, the sick and the dying. 

To prepare for a ministry in Parish Social Service, Sister Mary Theresa took several theology classes and participated in workshops. She served as a Parish Minister for 37 years at parishes in western Pennsylvania. While serving as a Pastoral Associate at St. Stephen Parish in Hazelwood, Sister was awarded the Manifesting the Kingdom Award from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

While Sister completed her parish ministry in 2008 and moved to the region house at Mt. Alvernia, she did not retire. She was asked to be Sacristan and continued in that role when the Sisters moved to The Waters of Wexford. It was a ministry she loved deeply.

Sister Mary Theresa will be remembered for her servant’s heart, always giving of herself in God’s work. She remained faithful to fully living her vocation to the end.

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Born in Camden, New Jersey, as Isabell Teresa, Sister Mary Celestine entered religious life at 18. She would be a Sister of St. Francis for 75 years.

Sister earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York and a master’s degree in English from St. Bonaventure University. For 51 years, Sister ministered as a teacher in New Jersey and New York State schools. Because she had a great love for bringing children to God, she also taught religious education. For six years, she taught Religion to Special Education students on Sundays.

When she retired from teaching in 1999, Sister Celestine served as Hospitality Minister at Stella Maris Retreat Center in Skaneateles, New York. Her calm manner, warm smile and friendly face welcomed retreatants for 15 years, earning her the love of many individuals. She then ministered in community service at St Mary Chapel House in Baldwinsville, New York, for five years and children in the parish would flock to her side whenever they saw her. When she moved to Franciscan Villa in Syracuse, Sister became a powerful prayer minister.

Sister Celestine will be remembered for her deep spirituality, warm and welcoming smile, generosity, and sincere love for all who met her. She will be missed by her Sisters in community and all those who came to know her through her ministries.

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Sister Miriam Joseph was born Louise Margaret Nowicki in Buffalo, New York. Sister, one of six children, spent four years working as a lay teacher at St. Gerard’s School. During this time, she felt the call to religious life and entered community in 1953.

She earned a bachelor of science degree from Rosary Hill College and a master’s from Buffalo State College and then returned to teaching. Sister Miriam Joseph ministered in education for 51 years as a teacher, substitute teacher and librarian in Catholic schools throughout western New York State. She also served as an organist at several parishes where she taught. Sister served as the Secretary of the Buffalo branch of the Family Rosary for Peace; Spiritual Director for the Legionnaires of Mystical Rose Praesidium at St. Benedict Parish, and coordinator of Perpetual Adoration at St Mary of the Angels. Sister volunteered at WLOF-FM Catholic Radio Station in Amherst, New York.

Sister advocated for and participated in daily Eucharist and hours of Perpetual Adoration. She was proud of her Polish heritage and loved her religious habit.

Fellow Sisters and friends will miss Sister Miriam Joseph’s stories, known for making people laugh and her love for the Eucharist. 

Click here to make a gift in memory of Sister Miriam Joseph Nowicki

Religion Teacher and Community Administration and Service

Sister Christine was born in Wellsville, New York and throughout her early years, she was a member of St. Mary’s Parish, Belmont, New York. She attended Belmont Central grade school and high school. Following her graduation, she entered the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Child and took the name of Sister Mary Christine. Her community would later merge with the Sisters of St. Francis in Williamsville, which eventually became the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.

After her entrance in 1961, Sister Christine continued her education after entering community. She earned BA in Religious Education at Daemen College and a Youth Ministry Certification at Canisius College.

Sister Christine ministered for 21 years in education, 13 of those years in Religious Education. Among the schools where she taught were St. Pius X Mission Center, Batavia; St. John’s Mission Center, Jamestown; Cardinal O’Hara, Tonawanda; Villa Maria Academy, Cheektowaga and St. Mary’s High School, Lancaster, all in New York State.

Sister also served her Community in Vocation/Formation Work and Administration.

Sister Christine stated that before becoming a woman religious, she wanted to be a gym teacher, a mother of 10 or a softball pitcher. Although none of those ever came to be, Sister Christine lived life to the fullest in all that she did achieve.

Click here to make a gift in memory of Sister Christine Winterhalter

Sister began her faith journey at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in her hometown of Utica, New York. She graduated from Whitesboro Central High School and received a diploma in Nursing from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Utica. In 1951, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse, New York.

Sister Jane Patrick continued her education in community, earning a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and a master’s degree in Hospital Administration from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. For 46 years, she generously served the patients and staff of Mercy Hospital in Auburn, New York and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica as Assistant Administrator and Vice President. Always willing to ‘go the extra mile,’ Sister Jane Patrick initiated the Patient Advocate Program for St. Joseph Hospital’s Emergency Department while ministering in the hospital’s Spiritual Care Services. Sister’s final service was as a Prayer Minister at Franciscan Villa in Syracuse.

Generous, thoughtful and caring, Sister Jane Patrick will be remembered for her untiring energy, compassion, and willingness to help her Sisters and those in need.

Click here to make a gift in memory of Sister Jeremiah Collins

Sister Jeremiah was born in Rochester, New York, where she was a member of the Holy Apostles Church. She attended the parish’s elementary school and graduated from Nazareth High School. In 1950, eight years after her older sister, Sister Mary Lourdes, she entered religious life and was invested with the Franciscan habit in 1951.

Sister Jeremiah did her undergraduate work in Humanities at Le Moyne College in Syracuse and earned a master’s degree in Business Education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Sister’s first ministry was teaching faith formation classes at St. Mary’s school in Baldwinsville (central New York) for one year; she then spent seven years at St. Daniel’s School in Lyncourt. For the next eleven years, Sister taught in elementary and high school at Assumption Academy in Syracuse. Her next mission was to Oswego Catholic High School, where she served in the Business Department and later assumed the position of vice-principal.

In 1977, Sister Jeremiah was appointed Secretary-General of the Sisters of St. Francis, a position she held for ten years. She was elected Council Member on the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Francis and Assistant to the Superior General. Sister Jeremiah next gave clerical assistance to the community’s finance office. Lastly, Sister was a prayer minister at the Franciscan Villa in Syracuse. She was a Sister of St. Francis for 70 years.

Sister Jeremiah was a prayerful, devoted servant of God who performed her tasks with great devotion and joy. She was a warm, kind person with a beautiful sense of humor and a hearty laugh that brought smiles to all. She will be dearly missed.

Click here to make a gift in memory of Sister Jeremiah Collins