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Sister Mary Danielitta Lewandowski June 20, 1918 - September 3, 2006 Felician Franciscan, Sister Mary Danielitta Lewandowski, CSSF, passed away on September 3, 2006 at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Provincial House in Rio Rancho, NM, after spending 69 years in religious life. Born in Cudahy, WI, on June 20, 1918 to Francis and Frances (Maciona)Lewandowski, Esther Agnes began her journey in the Felician-Franciscan lifestyle in 1933 when she entered Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Chicago, IL. On July 25, 1937, Esther officially entered religious life as a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Province in Chicago and received the name Mary Danielitta at her investiture in 1938. In the late summer of 1939, Sister began a long career as teacher, organist and choir director. Her years in the teaching ministry saw her move 20 times from Texas to Illinois to Nebraska to New Mexico. Sister Danielitta also experienced the transfer from Chicago to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province in Ponca City, OK, in 1953 and again to Rio Rancho, NM, in 1976. In many of her assignments in small rural schools, she taught two or three grades at the same time. In addition, Sister taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes, directed the choir and served as parish organist. Sister received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1961 from St. Mary College in Xavier, KS and her CCD Master Certificate in 1969 from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, NE. In the summer of 1969 Sister Danielitta volunteered for mission work in Brazil. She served there as Vicar, First Councilor and Treasurer of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Vice-Province, in addition to her mission ministry until January of 1972. Upon her return from Brazil, she returned to classroom education ministry until 1981. For the next eleven years sister served as a religious Education Coordinator or instructor in Rio Rancho. 1992 took sister back to the classroom in Panna Maria, TX for one more year. From 1993 to 1995 Sister again returned to minister as Religious Education Coordinator in Kenedy, Texas, In 1995, Sister was assigned as a resident of the provincial house in Rio Rancho, NM where she served as a member of the liturgy committee, sacristan and library assistant. In 2001, after a fall in which she broke her hip, Sister retired to prayer ministry. Sister Danielitta will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her joyful disposition and for numerous ministries in which she served so selflessly. Sister Danielitta was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Mary Michalski and Alice Westphal. She is survived by her brother, Sylvester and sister-in-law Josie Lewandowski, of Franklin, Wisconsin and brother-in-law Charles Westphal of Sun City West, Arizona. Wake and rosary services will be held at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel, 4210 Meadowlark Lane SE, Rio Rancho on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the same location on Thursday, September 7, 2006 at 9:00 AM followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Arrangements by Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Rd. Rio Rancho, New Mexico 892-9920
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