Sister Mary Aurelian Kosiba, CSSF (1924-2017)

Tue, Dec 12th 2017 11:00 am

Sister Mary Aurelian Kosiba, CSSF, died Dec. 9, 2017, in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo. She was 93.
The former Genevieve Kosiba was born Feb. 10, 1924, in Buffalo, to Anthony and Mary (Strzyz) Kosiba. She joined the Buffalo province of the Felician Sisters in 1942 and professed perpetual vows in 1950.
Sister Aurelian received a bachelor's and master's degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, after which she began her teaching ministry at St. Casimir School in Buffalo. She taught at diocesan elementary schools for a total of 12 years, also teaching math at Bishop Colton High School and Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo, Bishop Gibbons High School in North Tonawanda and Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda. She also taught at Sacred Heart High School in Syracuse.
She also served as associate principal of Bishop Gibbons and assistant principal of Cardinal O'Hara. After this, she served as an assistant to the order's provincial treasurer for a year before returning to serve as principal of St. Casimir for three years.
In 1985, Sister Aurelian moved to Rome, Italy, to live at Our Lady of Mediatrix of Graces Generalate and serve as an assistant to the order's treasurer general. After returning to the United States, she served as a cafeteria manager, athletic center coordinator and director of maintenance personnel at Villa Maria Academy. She began serving at Villa Maria College in Buffalo in 1991, where she managed the campus bookstore and building rentals. She remained in this position for nine years. Sister Aurelian also managed the gift shop at the Felician Sisters' provincial house.
In 2002, she began serving at St. Francis Residence Convent as a part-time receptionist. She became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in 2008.
Sister Aurelian is survived by a brother, Walter Kosiba, and nieces and nephews.  
A funeral Mass was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel, with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga.