Sister Helen Veronica Pawlak dies at age 97
Sister Helen Veronica Pawlak, 97 a member of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and one of the Congregation’s early American vocations, died March 10 at the Provincialate in Cherry Hill.
Born Helen Pawlak on Dec. 20, 1912, in South Camden, she joined the Congregation in 1935 in Woodbridge, N.J. Her novitiate was made at the Motherhouse in Stara Wies, Poland, where she made her first profession of vows in 1938, and her perpetual profession in 1943.
Her life was dedicated to God, her community and people for whom she cared with steadfastness and kindheartedness, through dietary service, nursing and activities for the elderly, the community said in announcing her death.
Sister Veronica qualified as a practical nurse in 1956. Her services were first at St. Joseph’s Convent, with an orphanage at the time, in Woodbridge, then at the residence of the late Bishop Bartholomew Eustace in Haddonfield, and from 1957-60 at St. Mary’s Catholic Home in Cherry Hill in its growing years, where she took care of the residents. From 1961-69, Sister worked at St. Joseph’s Convent and in Mt. Carmel Visiting Home Nursing Services in Woodbridge, and for the next two years in St. John Retreat House in Atlantic City.
In 1971 Sister Veronica returned to St. Mary’s Catholic Home where she served in nursing and then activities, and finally as a volunteer. In 2002 Sister Veronica retired to the apostolate of prayer at the Provincialate. She was devoted to the Blessed Mother and never forgot her pilgrimage to Fatima. She was thrilled when her nieces, who visited often, took her on local trips, the last one being to the St. Padre Pio Shrine in Buena. Sister Veronica loved the missions and wrote to them until almost the end of her life.
Sister also loved to go with the sisters on vacation to the seashore.
Sister is survived by her religious community and Blanche Malin and Kathy Jaworski-Sitzlow among her surviving nieces.
On Saturday, March 13, the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Provincialate. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing, NJ.
Memorial contributions in Sister Veronica’s memory can be made to the Little Servant Sisters, 1000 Cropwell Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.
Franceso Saverio Muscat dies
Franceso Saverio (Saver) Muscat, the father of Father John Muscat, died Wednesday, March 10 in Malta. A priest who served in the Diocese of Camden, Father Muscat currenly serves in Malta.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, March 13 in Malta.
Lavinia Orsi dies, was priest’s mother
Lavinia Orsi (nee Savino), the mother of Father Michael P. Orsi, died Sunday, March 14.
A priest of the Diocese of Camden, Father Orsi currently serves at Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Fla.
She was the beloved wife of the late Pompeo; loving mother of Father Michael, Marie Shammas and her husband Jerry, Peter G. and his wife Kathy and Paul A. and his wife Isabella; dear sister of Joseph, Gaetano, Mary Competiello, Anna Monaco and the late Sadie DiMichele and Rae Savino; cherished grandmother of six.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday, March 18 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Brooklyn. Interment was at St. John’s Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Services by Marine Park Funeral Home, Brooklyn.