Sister M. Angelica Bielski, CSSF 1935-2020

Wed, Aug 12th 2020 10:10 am

Sister Mary Angelica Bielski, a Felician Sister for 67 years, who served the diocese of Buffalo in many ministries, died in Blessed Mary Angela Convent Cheektowaga on Aug. 9, 2020. She was 84.

The former Marcella Bielski was born on Aug. 25, 1935, in Buffalo to Frances Bielski. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 16, 1953, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 3, 1961. She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo. She held a bachelor of science in education degree from Rosary Hill (Daemen) College in Amherst, a master of science degree in business education from the New York University in New York City, and a master's in education in school administration degree from Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass. Sister Angelica is survived by her cousin and goddaughter, Donna M. Baer.

Sister Angelica began her teaching ministry at Transfiguration School in Syracuse. She continued teaching children at the elementary level in various Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo. She returned to Transfiguration School for her last elementary teaching assignment.

In 1965, she began teaching home economics and business courses at Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo. She then taught business courses at Bishop Gibbons High School in North Tonawanda, and Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda. During her stay at Cardinal O'Hara, she also served at the associate principal and later, assistant principal - a position she held for five years. In 1979, Sister Angelica became the principal at Villa Maria Academy where she remained for 17 years. Though she enjoyed all her teaching and leadership experiences, she did all in her power to help Villa Maria Academy grow and flourish. When she was honored by the Am-Pol Eagle Newspaper for her contribution to education, one of her fellow sisters remarked, "SM Angelica IS Villa Maria Academy."

Following her years of involvement in education, Sister Angelica served as executive secretary and assistant director at Father Justin's Rosary Hour, a project sponsored by the Conventual Franciscan Friars. She also served as editor of the Catholic Directory of the Diocese of Buffalo and was secretary at St. Joseph Cathedral, assistant archivist and chancery receptionist. In 2007, Sister Angelica was a receptionist at Villa Maria College of Buffalo.

Due to illness, she became a patient at Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo in 2016. Though she suffered many physical losses, she never lost her interest in the sisters. In a blurb she submitted in an anniversary book on her 60th year of religious life she stated, "I am grateful for the many sisters with whom I lived, and for all the young people whose lives I touched and who touched me as well."

Felician Sisters and family will celebrate a memorial Mass at a future date. Interment will be at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga


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