Sister Jean Jeziolkowski, OP
July 4 was not only a national holiday for the Jeziolkowski family of Alpena, Michigan. It was the day in 1930 on which Sigmund and Bernice (Lewandowski) Jeziolkowski celebrated the birth of their first child and baptized her Jean Marie. Mary Ann, Genevieve, Carol, and Louise followed her into the family. Mary Ann died in infancy, and the parents treasured their remaining four daughters.
Sister Jean Marie loved and admired her parents. Both were Polish. In her autobiography, she wrote about them:
They were always there and you knew what they valued and practiced the value. I always believed that we had what was needed in food, clothing, education, etc. Home life was simple and not fanciful. Dad worked at the Alpena Paper Mill, walked to and from work, carried his lunch pail, and daily there was some little surprise that was left at the end of the day.
Mom was a stay-at-home seamstress. She did sewing for the neighbors and built up her own clientele. She made all our clothes and re-made hand-me-downs. Since there was no such thing as benefits and social security, both Mom and Dad did attend to the welfare of my grandparents.
Bernice Lewandowski grew up on a farm. It was still being tilled and planted by her parents, and her husband and daughters frequently helped with the work and cost of growing the produce, then shared in it. Sister Jean Marie wrote:
I spent many a week during the summer on Grandpa and Grandma Lewandowski's farm. We worked hard, played in-between, and prayed the Lord's blessing. The summertime brought an abundance of cherries, plums, strawberries, and really fresh fish. Dad took special care of his dad, Grandpa John. . . . Grandpa John's needs, be they medical, physical, or spiritual, were of primary concern.
Jean attended St. Mary Elementary School in Alpena with the Felician Sisters, then finished at the Felician Academy in Detroit. She admired her teachers and their way of life, and entered the Felician Sisters' novitiate in Livonia, Michigan, in June 1948, at the age of eighteen. On August 12, 1949, she received the habit and her religious name (Sister Mary Luke), and professed her first vows on August 13, 1950. Her first year as a professed sister was spent at the Motherhouse as a full-time student.
Her initial years of teaching ministry were in Michigan, mainly on the primary level. She taught in Detroit for five years—three years at St. Stanislaus School and two years at St. Hyacinth School. In June 1956 Madonna College in Livonia awarded her a bachelor's degree with a major in American history and minor in education.
Transferred to Holy Rosary School in Cedar, she taught primary children for seven years, then served at Holy Rosary as principal for six years. Her next assignment was as principal for three years at St. Valentine School in Kawkawlin, where she also taught on the junior high level. She then spent five years in Lansing, as a middle grade teacher at Immaculate Heart School. In 1962, as a result of summer study, she received a master's degree from the University of Detroit, with a major in history and minor in education. The death of their father in March 1965 brought a period of mourning into the lives of the Jeziolkowski sisters.
During the years after Vatican II, Sister Jean's life became unsettled. She was dissatisfied with the community life she was living, and began to think of either finding a congregation more in keeping with the style of life that she desired or leaving religious life altogether. Her sister Genevieve was a member of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, and Sister Jean Marie decided to transfer into that congregation.
She ended twenty-four years as a Felician Sister and became an Adrian Dominican Sister on October 21, 1973. Her good friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala, also left the Felicians and became an Adrian Dominican. Sister Jean Marie had done summer study at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, and in summer 1974 finished the requirements. She became a specialist in education with a major in educational administration.
In 1977, she and Sister Joanne began thirty years of service to Holy Trinity Parish in Bay City, Michigan. For the first year Sister Jean Marie was a teacher in the school, and then served for twenty-nine years as Director of Religious Education in the parish. Her happiness in these years was marred by the death of her mother in 1980.
She also served as secretary of the Prism Mission Group, and took the minutes of other parish organizations. She must have made an impression in the Saginaw Diocese, because in May 1999, on the occasion of the celebration of her Golden Jubilee, an article on her life appeared in The Catholic Weekly, the diocesan paper.
When she and Sister Joanne retired in 2007 their pictures and write-ups were featured in the parish bulletin. They, however, remained in Bay City and volunteered their services to Holy Trinity until 2010. In November 2010, both sisters returned to Adrian and became residents of the Dominican Life Center/Maria. There, as long as she was able, Sister Jean Marie tried to be a friend or companion to Sisters who were in need of help. She became very ill, however, although her smiling face hid her sickness somewhat. On May 10, 2012, her life on earth ended, and God took her to eternity.
A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister Jean Marie on May 13, 2012. Sister Frances Nadolny, Prioress of Great Lakes Dominican Mission Chapter, extended sympathy and welcomed Sister's sisters, Sister Genevieve Jeziolkowski, Associate Carol Jeziolkowski, and Louise Morrison; her dear friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala; many members of her extended family; friends from Holy Trinity Parish; and her many Dominican friends.
Sister Jean's funeral liturgy was celebrated on May 14, 2012. Father Robert Kelly, OP, Motherhouse chaplain, was presider and homilist. Father Patrick O'Connor, a previous pastor at Holy Trinity in Bay City, now pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Bay City, concelebrated.
Sister Jean liked the song with words, "Lead me, guide me along the way, for if you lead me I cannot stray." Indeed, God did lead her!
July 4 was not only a national holiday for the Jeziolkowski family of Alpena, Michigan. It was the day in 1930 on which Sigmund and Bernice (Lewandowski) Jeziolkowski celebrated the birth of their first child and baptized her Jean Marie. Mary Ann, Genevieve, Carol, and Louise followed her into the family. Mary Ann died in infancy, and the parents treasured their remaining four daughters.
Sister Jean Marie loved and admired her parents. Both were Polish. In her autobiography, she wrote about them:
They were always there and you knew what they valued and practiced the value. I always believed that we had what was needed in food, clothing, education, etc. Home life was simple and not fanciful. Dad worked at the Alpena Paper Mill, walked to and from work, carried his lunch pail, and daily there was some little surprise that was left at the end of the day.
Mom was a stay-at-home seamstress. She did sewing for the neighbors and built up her own clientele. She made all our clothes and re-made hand-me-downs. Since there was no such thing as benefits and social security, both Mom and Dad did attend to the welfare of my grandparents.
Bernice Lewandowski grew up on a farm. It was still being tilled and planted by her parents, and her husband and daughters frequently helped with the work and cost of growing the produce, then shared in it. Sister Jean Marie wrote:
I spent many a week during the summer on Grandpa and Grandma Lewandowski's farm. We worked hard, played in-between, and prayed the Lord's blessing. The summertime brought an abundance of cherries, plums, strawberries, and really fresh fish. Dad took special care of his dad, Grandpa John. . . . Grandpa John's needs, be they medical, physical, or spiritual, were of primary concern.
Jean attended St. Mary Elementary School in Alpena with the Felician Sisters, then finished at the Felician Academy in Detroit. She admired her teachers and their way of life, and entered the Felician Sisters' novitiate in Livonia, Michigan, in June 1948, at the age of eighteen. On August 12, 1949, she received the habit and her religious name (Sister Mary Luke), and professed her first vows on August 13, 1950. Her first year as a professed sister was spent at the Motherhouse as a full-time student.
Her initial years of teaching ministry were in Michigan, mainly on the primary level. She taught in Detroit for five years—three years at St. Stanislaus School and two years at St. Hyacinth School. In June 1956 Madonna College in Livonia awarded her a bachelor's degree with a major in American history and minor in education.
Transferred to Holy Rosary School in Cedar, she taught primary children for seven years, then served at Holy Rosary as principal for six years. Her next assignment was as principal for three years at St. Valentine School in Kawkawlin, where she also taught on the junior high level. She then spent five years in Lansing, as a middle grade teacher at Immaculate Heart School. In 1962, as a result of summer study, she received a master's degree from the University of Detroit, with a major in history and minor in education. The death of their father in March 1965 brought a period of mourning into the lives of the Jeziolkowski sisters.
During the years after Vatican II, Sister Jean's life became unsettled. She was dissatisfied with the community life she was living, and began to think of either finding a congregation more in keeping with the style of life that she desired or leaving religious life altogether. Her sister Genevieve was a member of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, and Sister Jean Marie decided to transfer into that congregation.
She ended twenty-four years as a Felician Sister and became an Adrian Dominican Sister on October 21, 1973. Her good friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala, also left the Felicians and became an Adrian Dominican. Sister Jean Marie had done summer study at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, and in summer 1974 finished the requirements. She became a specialist in education with a major in educational administration.
In 1977, she and Sister Joanne began thirty years of service to Holy Trinity Parish in Bay City, Michigan. For the first year Sister Jean Marie was a teacher in the school, and then served for twenty-nine years as Director of Religious Education in the parish. Her happiness in these years was marred by the death of her mother in 1980.
She also served as secretary of the Prism Mission Group, and took the minutes of other parish organizations. She must have made an impression in the Saginaw Diocese, because in May 1999, on the occasion of the celebration of her Golden Jubilee, an article on her life appeared in The Catholic Weekly, the diocesan paper.
When she and Sister Joanne retired in 2007 their pictures and write-ups were featured in the parish bulletin. They, however, remained in Bay City and volunteered their services to Holy Trinity until 2010. In November 2010, both sisters returned to Adrian and became residents of the Dominican Life Center/Maria. There, as long as she was able, Sister Jean Marie tried to be a friend or companion to Sisters who were in need of help. She became very ill, however, although her smiling face hid her sickness somewhat. On May 10, 2012, her life on earth ended, and God took her to eternity.
A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister Jean Marie on May 13, 2012. Sister Frances Nadolny, Prioress of Great Lakes Dominican Mission Chapter, extended sympathy and welcomed Sister's sisters, Sister Genevieve Jeziolkowski, Associate Carol Jeziolkowski, and Louise Morrison; her dear friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala; many members of her extended family; friends from Holy Trinity Parish; and her many Dominican friends.
Sister Jean's funeral liturgy was celebrated on May 14, 2012. Father Robert Kelly, OP, Motherhouse chaplain, was presider and homilist. Father Patrick O'Connor, a previous pastor at Holy Trinity in Bay City, now pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Bay City, concelebrated.
Sister Jean liked the song with words, "Lead me, guide me along the way, for if you lead me I cannot stray." Indeed, God did lead her!
Sister Jean Jeziolkowski, OP
July 4 was not only a national holiday for the Jeziolkowski family of Alpena, Michigan. It was the day in 1930 on which Sigmund and Bernice (Lewandowski) Jeziolkowski celebrated the birth of their first child and baptized her Jean Marie. Mary Ann, Genevieve, Carol, and Louise followed her into the family. Mary Ann died in infancy, and the parents treasured their remaining four daughters.
Sister Jean Marie loved and admired her parents. Both were Polish. In her autobiography, she wrote about them:
They were always there and you knew what they valued and practiced the value. I always believed that we had what was needed in food, clothing, education, etc. Home life was simple and not fanciful. Dad worked at the Alpena Paper Mill, walked to and from work, carried his lunch pail, and daily there was some little surprise that was left at the end of the day.
Mom was a stay-at-home seamstress. She did sewing for the neighbors and built up her own clientele. She made all our clothes and re-made hand-me-downs. Since there was no such thing as benefits and social security, both Mom and Dad did attend to the welfare of my grandparents.
Bernice Lewandowski grew up on a farm. It was still being tilled and planted by her parents, and her husband and daughters frequently helped with the work and cost of growing the produce, then shared in it. Sister Jean Marie wrote:
I spent many a week during the summer on Grandpa and Grandma Lewandowski's farm. We worked hard, played in-between, and prayed the Lord's blessing. The summertime brought an abundance of cherries, plums, strawberries, and really fresh fish. Dad took special care of his dad, Grandpa John. . . . Grandpa John's needs, be they medical, physical, or spiritual, were of primary concern.
Jean attended St. Mary Elementary School in Alpena with the Felician Sisters, then finished at the Felician Academy in Detroit. She admired her teachers and their way of life, and entered the Felician Sisters' novitiate in Livonia, Michigan, in June 1948, at the age of eighteen. On August 12, 1949, she received the habit and her religious name (Sister Mary Luke), and professed her first vows on August 13, 1950. Her first year as a professed sister was spent at the Motherhouse as a full-time student.
Her initial years of teaching ministry were in Michigan, mainly on the primary level. She taught in Detroit for five years—three years at St. Stanislaus School and two years at St. Hyacinth School. In June 1956 Madonna College in Livonia awarded her a bachelor's degree with a major in American history and minor in education.
Transferred to Holy Rosary School in Cedar, she taught primary children for seven years, then served at Holy Rosary as principal for six years. Her next assignment was as principal for three years at St. Valentine School in Kawkawlin, where she also taught on the junior high level. She then spent five years in Lansing, as a middle grade teacher at Immaculate Heart School. In 1962, as a result of summer study, she received a master's degree from the University of Detroit, with a major in history and minor in education. The death of their father in March 1965 brought a period of mourning into the lives of the Jeziolkowski sisters.
During the years after Vatican II, Sister Jean's life became unsettled. She was dissatisfied with the community life she was living, and began to think of either finding a congregation more in keeping with the style of life that she desired or leaving religious life altogether. Her sister Genevieve was a member of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, and Sister Jean Marie decided to transfer into that congregation.
She ended twenty-four years as a Felician Sister and became an Adrian Dominican Sister on October 21, 1973. Her good friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala, also left the Felicians and became an Adrian Dominican. Sister Jean Marie had done summer study at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, and in summer 1974 finished the requirements. She became a specialist in education with a major in educational administration.
In 1977, she and Sister Joanne began thirty years of service to Holy Trinity Parish in Bay City, Michigan. For the first year Sister Jean Marie was a teacher in the school, and then served for twenty-nine years as Director of Religious Education in the parish. Her happiness in these years was marred by the death of her mother in 1980.
She also served as secretary of the Prism Mission Group, and took the minutes of other parish organizations. She must have made an impression in the Saginaw Diocese, because in May 1999, on the occasion of the celebration of her Golden Jubilee, an article on her life appeared in The Catholic Weekly, the diocesan paper.
When she and Sister Joanne retired in 2007 their pictures and write-ups were featured in the parish bulletin. They, however, remained in Bay City and volunteered their services to Holy Trinity until 2010. In November 2010, both sisters returned to Adrian and became residents of the Dominican Life Center/Maria. There, as long as she was able, Sister Jean Marie tried to be a friend or companion to Sisters who were in need of help. She became very ill, however, although her smiling face hid her sickness somewhat. On May 10, 2012, her life on earth ended, and God took her to eternity.
A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister Jean Marie on May 13, 2012. Sister Frances Nadolny, Prioress of Great Lakes Dominican Mission Chapter, extended sympathy and welcomed Sister's sisters, Sister Genevieve Jeziolkowski, Associate Carol Jeziolkowski, and Louise Morrison; her dear friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala; many members of her extended family; friends from Holy Trinity Parish; and her many Dominican friends.
Sister Jean's funeral liturgy was celebrated on May 14, 2012. Father Robert Kelly, OP, Motherhouse chaplain, was presider and homilist. Father Patrick O'Connor, a previous pastor at Holy Trinity in Bay City, now pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Bay City, concelebrated.
Sister Jean liked the song with words, "Lead me, guide me along the way, for if you lead me I cannot stray." Indeed, God did lead her!
July 4 was not only a national holiday for the Jeziolkowski family of Alpena, Michigan. It was the day in 1930 on which Sigmund and Bernice (Lewandowski) Jeziolkowski celebrated the birth of their first child and baptized her Jean Marie. Mary Ann, Genevieve, Carol, and Louise followed her into the family. Mary Ann died in infancy, and the parents treasured their remaining four daughters.
Sister Jean Marie loved and admired her parents. Both were Polish. In her autobiography, she wrote about them:
They were always there and you knew what they valued and practiced the value. I always believed that we had what was needed in food, clothing, education, etc. Home life was simple and not fanciful. Dad worked at the Alpena Paper Mill, walked to and from work, carried his lunch pail, and daily there was some little surprise that was left at the end of the day.
Mom was a stay-at-home seamstress. She did sewing for the neighbors and built up her own clientele. She made all our clothes and re-made hand-me-downs. Since there was no such thing as benefits and social security, both Mom and Dad did attend to the welfare of my grandparents.
Bernice Lewandowski grew up on a farm. It was still being tilled and planted by her parents, and her husband and daughters frequently helped with the work and cost of growing the produce, then shared in it. Sister Jean Marie wrote:
I spent many a week during the summer on Grandpa and Grandma Lewandowski's farm. We worked hard, played in-between, and prayed the Lord's blessing. The summertime brought an abundance of cherries, plums, strawberries, and really fresh fish. Dad took special care of his dad, Grandpa John. . . . Grandpa John's needs, be they medical, physical, or spiritual, were of primary concern.
Jean attended St. Mary Elementary School in Alpena with the Felician Sisters, then finished at the Felician Academy in Detroit. She admired her teachers and their way of life, and entered the Felician Sisters' novitiate in Livonia, Michigan, in June 1948, at the age of eighteen. On August 12, 1949, she received the habit and her religious name (Sister Mary Luke), and professed her first vows on August 13, 1950. Her first year as a professed sister was spent at the Motherhouse as a full-time student.
Her initial years of teaching ministry were in Michigan, mainly on the primary level. She taught in Detroit for five years—three years at St. Stanislaus School and two years at St. Hyacinth School. In June 1956 Madonna College in Livonia awarded her a bachelor's degree with a major in American history and minor in education.
Transferred to Holy Rosary School in Cedar, she taught primary children for seven years, then served at Holy Rosary as principal for six years. Her next assignment was as principal for three years at St. Valentine School in Kawkawlin, where she also taught on the junior high level. She then spent five years in Lansing, as a middle grade teacher at Immaculate Heart School. In 1962, as a result of summer study, she received a master's degree from the University of Detroit, with a major in history and minor in education. The death of their father in March 1965 brought a period of mourning into the lives of the Jeziolkowski sisters.
During the years after Vatican II, Sister Jean's life became unsettled. She was dissatisfied with the community life she was living, and began to think of either finding a congregation more in keeping with the style of life that she desired or leaving religious life altogether. Her sister Genevieve was a member of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, and Sister Jean Marie decided to transfer into that congregation.
She ended twenty-four years as a Felician Sister and became an Adrian Dominican Sister on October 21, 1973. Her good friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala, also left the Felicians and became an Adrian Dominican. Sister Jean Marie had done summer study at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, and in summer 1974 finished the requirements. She became a specialist in education with a major in educational administration.
In 1977, she and Sister Joanne began thirty years of service to Holy Trinity Parish in Bay City, Michigan. For the first year Sister Jean Marie was a teacher in the school, and then served for twenty-nine years as Director of Religious Education in the parish. Her happiness in these years was marred by the death of her mother in 1980.
She also served as secretary of the Prism Mission Group, and took the minutes of other parish organizations. She must have made an impression in the Saginaw Diocese, because in May 1999, on the occasion of the celebration of her Golden Jubilee, an article on her life appeared in The Catholic Weekly, the diocesan paper.
When she and Sister Joanne retired in 2007 their pictures and write-ups were featured in the parish bulletin. They, however, remained in Bay City and volunteered their services to Holy Trinity until 2010. In November 2010, both sisters returned to Adrian and became residents of the Dominican Life Center/Maria. There, as long as she was able, Sister Jean Marie tried to be a friend or companion to Sisters who were in need of help. She became very ill, however, although her smiling face hid her sickness somewhat. On May 10, 2012, her life on earth ended, and God took her to eternity.
A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister Jean Marie on May 13, 2012. Sister Frances Nadolny, Prioress of Great Lakes Dominican Mission Chapter, extended sympathy and welcomed Sister's sisters, Sister Genevieve Jeziolkowski, Associate Carol Jeziolkowski, and Louise Morrison; her dear friend, Sister Joanne Gwizdala; many members of her extended family; friends from Holy Trinity Parish; and her many Dominican friends.
Sister Jean's funeral liturgy was celebrated on May 14, 2012. Father Robert Kelly, OP, Motherhouse chaplain, was presider and homilist. Father Patrick O'Connor, a previous pastor at Holy Trinity in Bay City, now pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Bay City, concelebrated.
Sister Jean liked the song with words, "Lead me, guide me along the way, for if you lead me I cannot stray." Indeed, God did lead her!
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