Sister Mary Merecedia Lukaszewicz

LUKASZEWICZ, MARY MERCEDIA, SISTER August 14, 1920 - October 22, 2013 Felician, Sister Mary Mercedia Lukaszewicz passed away at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent on Wednesday, October 22, 2013. Born in Rockford, IL, she was the daughter of John and Josephine Szklanka Lukaszewicz. At the age of seven her mother died, leaving a hole in her heart and added self-appointed responsibilities on very young shoulders. Influenced by the kindness of the Felician Sisters, she received her father�s blessing to enter the Felician Congregation in Chicago, IL, on September 8, 1939. Sister Mercedia began her teaching ministry in 1942 and for eight years taught double grades in the Chicago area. In 1950, sister was missioned in Pomona, CA, where for nine years she taught at Sacred Heart School. In 1960 she assumed her roles as superior, principal and teacher of grades 7 and 8 at St. Rita�s School in Fort Worth, TX. 1962 took her southward to San Antonio and St. Margaret Mary School, again as superior, principal and teacher of grade 8. In 1966, life took a different turn for Sister Mercedia when she was chosen to serve as the provincial minister of the Assumption of the BVM Province, then in Ponca City, OK. 1970 threw another curve into her life when she was elected to serve as a General Councilor for the Felician Congregation, this time taking her to Rome, Italy. Sister was elected to a second term and in 1982, returned to the province, which in the meantime, had relocated to Rio Rancho, NM. Upon her return sister resumed her teaching ministry for grades 5 and 6 in Bremond, TX, at St. Mary School. In 1983 Sister Mercedia was elected for a second term as provincial minister of the Assumption Province, now in Rio Rancho. Upon completion of her term of leadership, she once again returned to teaching - this time to grade 5 at Holy Trinity School in Los Angeles, CA. Sister took a brief break from teaching when from August of 1991 to June of 1992, Sister Mercedia ministered to her sick sister in Rockford, IL. The beginning of the 1992 school year found her once again in Bremond, TX, where she was part of the departmental program for grades 7 and 8. In 1995 Sister Mercedia said good-bye to the formal year-long classroom teaching. Upon her relocation to Rio Rancho in Assumption Convent sister served in many roles including teaching CCD at San Ysidro in Corrales, and internal ministries such as being part of the Local Ministerial Team, Co-Moderator of the Ladies� Auxiliary, Library Assistant and Correspondence Assistant to the Infirm Sisters to mention a few. In 2008 Sister was assigned to prayer ministry but involved herself assisting others whenever and wherever she saw a need, Sister was indeed a very prayerful person, who remembered the needs of the world around her and the world at large in many forms of prayer. Sister Mary Mercedia will be remembered not only for her many years of responsible leadership but for always being a vital member and true sister of any community she was a part of. Always motivated by her deep sense of prayer, justice and commitment, she was alert to the needs of others. She was by nature a storyteller and as a weaver of words, brought her wit and wisdom to all situations and events. She was devoted to the Felician Congregation, friends and family and kept in touch with many to the end. Sister Mercedia was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Chester and Matthew Lukaszewicz, Eugene Lucas, Leocadia Burgert, Monica Kleczewski and Anne Mahorski. She is survived by numerous loving and devoted nieces, nephews and cousins. Rosary and Wake services will be held for Sister Mercedia in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent Chapel at 4210 Meadowlark Lane, SE in Rio Rancho on Thursday, October 24, 2013, at 6:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the same location on Friday, October 25, 2013, at 9:00 AM. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Albuquerque, NM. Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-892-9920