Obituaries

The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) announced co-directors for the new Intercongregational Collaborative Novitiate. Nancy Gerth, SCN, and Corrina Thomas, FSPA, will work to launch a new novitiate in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago this fall.

It’s that time of year again! Time for the annual Super Raffle. The drawing will be held, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, at 1 p.m. in Nazareth, Kentucky, and online via live webcast.

The Super Raffle prizes are: 1st prize: $20,000, 2nd prize: $5,000, 3rd prize: $1,000. A maximum of 3,000 Super Raffle tickets will be sold.

Proceeds of the Super Raffle go to support the SCN missions and ministries in the United States and around the world in Belize, Botswana, India, Kenya and Nepal.

Charitable Gaming License #ORG0001740

Clement Marie Sabol, SCN, 74, formerly Sister Pauline Therese, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, March 2, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 58 years.

Sister Clement entered in 1963, and made vows in 1966. She served as a grade school teacher at the following schools in Pennsylvania: St. Sebastian School in Pittsburgh; Holy Trinity in McKeesport; St. Leocadia in Wilmerding; and St. Denis in Versailles.

From 1979-1989, she ministered at Vincentian Home and Villa De Marillac nursing homes in Pittsburgh. Also in Pittsburgh, she provided pastoral care to Regency Hall, and later volunteered at Veteran’s Hospital. From 19962014, she also served as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

She is survived by her sister, Judy Sabol, of Natick, Massachusetts; her extended family; and her religious community.

John Ann Kulina, SCN, 103, formerly Sister Anna Marie, a native of Blaine, Ohio, died at the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, March 6, 2021. She died one month short of her 104th birthday. She was a professed Sister for 73 years.

Sister John Ann served in the Nazareth kitchen beginning in 1948, and eventually leading the department. Her culinary skills led her to supervisory positions in the dietary departments at St. Peter Orphanage in Tennessee, as well as St. Joseph Infirmary and St. Thomas-St. Vincent Home, both in Kentucky. Her gifts in organization combined with a mild manner won her the admiration of coworkers, management roles in every location, as well as the hearts of many- especially of the children at the orphanages where she served.

In 1983, Sister John Ann began serving as a sacristan at St. Vincent Church at Nazareth. She served in this position until March of 2020.

She is survived by her brother, Frank Kulina; her nieces and nephews; her extended family; and by her religious community.

Sisters prayerfully remember the following former students of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth:

Frances Elizabeth Hensley Kramer Nazareth Academy, 1949 LaVerne Smith LaSalette Academy, 1950 John Liebermann Saint Catherine Academy, 1965

Alma Jean (Seger) Kamer Nazareth College, 1948 Patricia Douglas Wade Sacred Heart School Memphis and St. Joseph Infirmary

Colette Baran, SCN, 91, a native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, March 16, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 73 years.

Sister Collete had a Bachelor in Education and Masters in Sociology/ Anthropology. She taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She joined the staff at LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, as one of the first female department chairs. She was part of a panel of American women of all faiths, who gave presentations to empower women to realize their importance in the Church and society. She ministered at the Red Cloud Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota; served as the Director of the Social Service program at St. Jude’s in Montgomery, Alabama; and in parish ministry at St. Michael Parish in Munhall, Pennsylvania. She earned a certificate in Canon Law and served in the Tribunal Office for the Diocese of Pittsburgh; and later was a sacristan.

She is survived by her nieces, Kathy Richel, Carol Cabot, and Sarah Baran; and a nephew, Mark Zacovic; grand nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.

Madonna Michaels, SCN, 84, a native of Wexford, Pennsylvania, died at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 19, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 63 years.

Sister Madonna earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from LaRoche University and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Before earning her degree in Social Work, Sister Madonna taught in elementary schools in the Pittsburgh and Greensburg Dioceses, and at St. Jude Educational Center in Montgomery, Alabama. Sister Madonna also served in parish ministry at St. Paul’s Cathedral. As a social worker, she served in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and Schuyler, Nebraska, before serving as manager of Germaine Harbor for eight years, and then as manager of Just-In for eight years— both high-rise apartments for the elderly in Pittsburgh.

She is survived by her brothers, Richard and Ronald; cousin, Rev. Kris Stubna; nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.

Miriam Elizabeth Brown, SCN, 98, a native of Olive Hill, Kentucky, died at the Nazareth Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, March 24, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 76 years.

Sister Miriam Elizabeth attended St. Joseph Nursing School in Lexington, Kentucky. As a young RN, she worked in several hospitals, including one where she witnessed the first injection of penicillin. Over six decades, she served as a nurse: in St. Joseph Infirmary, Louisville, Kentucky; St. Vincent Infirmary, Little Rock, Arkansas; St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington; Flaget Hospital, Bardstown, Kentucky; and Holy Family Hospital, Ensley, Alabama. During her second assignment at St. Joseph’s Infirmary, she also served as the local superior. Sister Miriam Elizabeth later earned a B.S. in nursing, and joined a newly formed mobile health unit in Louisville, Nazareth Home Health, later Caritas Home Health Agency, serving in many roles from 1971 to 2005.

She is survived by a sister, Barbara Anne McMullen; her extended family; and by her religious community.

Anastasia Chernitsky, SCN, 87, born in Juanita, Pennsylvania, died at Nazareth Home, Louisville, Kentucky, March 27, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 67 years.

In 1951, Sister Anastasia entered the convent, and first served at Vincentian Home in Pittsburgh. She was drawn to health care and teaching.

She studied nursing and also earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education. Sister Anastasia taught in the Diocese of Pittsburgh at St. Dominic, Donora; St. Ursula, Allison Park; St. Bartholomew, Crabtree; St. Thomas High, Braddock; Vincentian, Pittsburgh; and in the Diocese of Greensburg at St. Mary, Uniontown, and Cardinal Mooney High in Youngstown, Ohio.

In 1978, Sister Anastasia served at Regency Hall Nursing Home in Pittsburgh, in a number of roles. She also ministered in payroll at St. Louise Convent and in the mail room.

She is survived by her sister, Helen Piwowar, and sister-in-law Dorothy Chernitsky; nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.

Theresa Cash, SCN, formerly Sister Elizabeth Theresa, 96, a native of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, died at the Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, April 25, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 74 years.

Sister Theresa entered the novitiate in 1944, already a gifted musician. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a Master’s in Theology.

She taught elementary and middle school students for over six decades. In Kentucky, she taught at St. Agnes in Louisville, Holy Name in Henderson, and St. Benedict School. She also ministered at St. Mary Academy, Leonardtown, Maryland; Our Lady of Victory School, Columbus, Ohio; St. Michael School and St. Ann School, Memphis, Tennessee; St. Rita School, Alexandria, Louisiana, where she served as principal; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Greenwood, Mississippi; and St. Anne’s, Bartlett, Tennessee. For 28 years, Sister Theresa was the choir director at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Nazareth; was a lector, a choir member, and ministered in hospitality.

She is survived by family members including nieces and nephews; and by her religious community.

Loretta Weller, SCN, 97, formerly Sister Mary Hugh, a native of Newport, Kentucky, died at the SCN Motherhouse, Nazareth, Kentucky, June 2, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 66 years.

Sister Loretta served in elementary education as teacher and principal at Our Lady of Sorrows School in Memphis, Tennessee. She also taught third grade at St. Matthias School in Columbus, Ohio, and grades five and six at Immaculate Conception School in Newport. From 1967-2001 she served in Paris, Kentucky. She was the principal at St. Mary School and also a religion teacher for grades two and six.

From 2001-2007, Sister Loretta served at Annunciation Parish in Paris, in pastoral ministry and as a member of the parish staff.

She also served in hospitality for 10 years as the Guest House assistant, welcoming all who stayed at Nazareth. During that time she was the mail room clerk as well, for the Nazareth Motherhouse.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews; by her extended family; and by her religious community.

Maria Estelle Chopnak, SCN, 83, a native of Munhall, Pennsylvania, died at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, June 21, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 67 years.

Sister Maria Estelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Mt. Mercy (Carlow College), and a Masters in Administration from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. She taught in elementary schools in Pittsburgh, Greensburg and Youngstown, Ohio for 27 years. In Pennsylvania, Sister Maria Estelle also served as a principal in Mt. Pleasant, North Huntingdon, and Masontown. In 1998, Sister Estelle took a position in pastoral ministry at Light of Hearts Villa in Bedford, Ohio, where she served for 14 years. When Sisters described Sister Maria Estelle, they would often mention her quick wit and sense of humor.

She is survived by cousins; friends; and by her religious community.

Amala Valayathil, SCN, 74, a native of Kottayam District, Kerala, India, died at Ruban Memorial Hospital, Patna, India, June 25, 2021. She was a professed Sister for 46 years.

After making first vows on Sept. 27,1975, Sister Amala first taught at Nazareth Academy in Gaya, India. She would go on to earn her Bachelor of Arts as well as her degree in education. Among her many teaching ministries, Sokho, India, a remote mission, with students at Nazareth Bhavan; the English Medium school St. Augustine’s, in Vasai, Maharashtra, India; and assignments in Hilsa, Biharsharif, and Maria Niketan Vidyalaya, Bewa, in Jharkhand. Sister Amala was a pioneer when Nazareth Dhaan in Barauni, India, opened. She later bcame headmistress of St. Joseph’s School in Barauni and St. Xavier’s Middle School in Mokama. In 2008, she was the first principal of the newly established English Medium School in Chatra, India. Most recently, Sister Amala was in pastoral ministry in Barauni. She is survived by a brother; two sisters; and by her religious community.