Anna Lisowski, child of Jacob Lisowski and Mary Pipa, was b.July 23, 1876, CZ, d.Jan. 09, 1964, Mankato, Minn:
1-Article written by Sister M. Clarine Regarding the Death of Sister Sancia
2-Notice of Death
3-Obituary From Northwestern Province
4-Congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
5-A Sketch of My Life, by Sister Sancia
Sister taught in different grades. She enjoyed telling about her ways with naughty boys whom other teachers could not manage. She said the pastor would often come and ask her what she was doing to these boys for they were such gentlemen now. Sister did not tell these things in a bragging way. She also enjoyed telling stories of her good Catholic home. Never had an uncharitable word passed Sister’s lips. She was God’s own chosen one. Neither did she want to listen to anything uncharitable. Sister came to St. Peter Sanatorium in August, 1953. She was brought in from the hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Sister was not expected to live two weeks for she had a serious blood condition. She managed to pick up a little strength and until October 9, 1960 she kept herself busy all day long, except the time she spent before the Blessed Sacrament with another sister with whom she prayed many an hour. She hemmed thousands of tapes for foreheadbands and wimples. She also helped with washing other patients dishes and with the dusting. She had been failing for a long time. Weakness and tiredness overcame her. She also suffered from dizzy spells. Then on October 9, 1960 she arose to go to the lavatory at 9:00 p.m. There she apparently got dizzy, fell and fractured two bones in her wrist. She was taken to the hospital on October 11. At first the doctor was going to operate, but due to high blood pressure he was afraid to do so. He thought Sister might go into a coma if he did. After a week in the hospital, the doctor thought best to have her anointed. She recognized the sisters when they came to visit her and tried to be very pleasant. She said she was trying the way she knew best to come home. She was very grateful for every little thing done for her. The nurses and sisters said she was a model patient and very edifying in all her simple ways. She always pitied the nurses and tried to save them all she could. She was a peaceable “loving” sister who was never heard to complain though we are sure god knew of her sufferings. She came from a very refined Christian Catholic home and delighted to tell little stories about her home life. She is surely enjoying or will be enjoying her reward in heaven because everything she did was for the love of God and his Blessed Mother, her dear angel and Saint Joseph.
Sister M. Sancia, S.S.N.D., 87, Dies at Mankato
Sister M. Sancia, S.S.N.D., 87, died January 9 at the mother house at Good Counsel Hill, Mankato, Minnesota. Funeral services were held there January 13 with the burial in the convent cemetery. Sister Mary Sancia, the former Anna Lisowski, was born in Selesia, Poland, July 23, 1876, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Jacib Lisowski. When she was four years old she came to America with her parents who settled in Arcadia. She entered the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame at Milwaukee at the age of 16. She taught school in Chicago and Winona, Minn., for many years. In 1953, she retired to the mother house at Good Counsel Hill, Mankato. Her last surviving sister passed away on Dec. 31, 1963, at International Falls, Minn. Her parents, two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death. Survivors are several nieces and nephews. January 10, 1964.
Northwestern
Province
Obituary of
Sister Mary Sancia Lisowska
Be
It done to me according to Thy word.
Complete
resignation to the divine Will was our dear Sister Mary Sancia’s
characteristic trait, recognized by all who lived with her as a religious. The
second youngest of eight children, born in Poland of good, pious parents, she
evidently acquired from them those outstanding qualities for which she was so
well known. As she related, never was anyone who asked for alms or other help at
her home, sent away unaided. When little Joan was four years old, the family
emigrated to America and settled in Arcadia, Wis., where at first she attended
public school and later the Catholic school taught by our Sisters. When she
was fifteen years old she made known to her parents her desire to become a
Sister and after a month’s pleading received their permission to enter the
candidature in Milwaukee.
Having
spent six happy months in the novitiate, Novice Mary Sancia was missioned to St.
Hyacinth School, Milwaukee, to teach a class of boys in the intermediate grades.
Nine years later she was sent to St. John Cantius School, Chicago, where she
remained for thirty-six years as a most successful teacher, being especially
competent in dealing with boys who were known as the “tough ones.” It was
said that the pastor used to marvel at her achievement with these boys and many
parents came to thank her for all that she did for their children. In 1937
Sister came to the Mankato Province to teach at St. Stanislaus School, Winona,
Minn. Here she remained for the rest of her active life, well loved both as
teacher and as community member. As one of her superiors remarked, “During the
years I lived with Sister M. Sancia, I found her a model religious, refined,
cheerful, agreeable - always the first in the chapel for spiritual exercises.
She was in charge of church work, which was a tremendous job, but she was never
heard to utter a complaint.”
After
having spent fifty-six years in teaching, Sister’s health failed and she was
hospitalized for some time. Thereafter she came to St. Peter Fourier Sanatorium
at the Mankato Motherhouse, in a very weakened condition. However, after a short
period of rest she was able to be up again and kept herself occupied with light
work, especially sewing. Several times she suffered a slight stroke and from
then on was a bed patient part of the time. With all her sufferings she never
asked for any exceptions and always expressed her gratitude for any service rendered her, with a hearty ‘May God reward you!” As she
became weaker she was anointed several times but recovered sufficiently to
make her way to the chapel and to be with the community for short periods at
recreation.
Several
weeks before her death Sister fell and broke her hip. After undergoing surgery
she seemed much improved. However, due to an infection, her throat gradually
became paralyzed so that she could no longer partake of food or drink.
Nevertheless, when the Sisters prayed at her side, her moving lips indicated
that she was still conscious. On January 10, she was more or less in a comatose
condition and with the chaplain repeatedly at her bedside saying the prayers for
the dying, she quietly and peacefully breathed her last at 10:30 p.m. May our
dear Sister M. Sancia intercede for us that we too may be well prepared to face
life eternal with that complete resignation to God’s Holy Will, which was so
evident during her entire religious life.
May
she rest in peace!
Name: Johanna Lisowska:
Born: July 23, 1877
Mother: Mary Pepa
Father: James Lisowski
Entered: July 17, 1892
Received: February 13, 1896
Professed: August 18, 1899
Final Vows: July 22, 1907
Died: January 10, 1964
Motherhouse,
Mankato, Minn.
Congregation
of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Permanent Record - September 1941
Sister
Mary Sancia Lisowska: Baptismal name Joan.
Address of Family: Arcadia Wisconsin.
In the Event of Illness or Death Who Should be Notified: August Lisowski -
Brother - Address R.F.D. No.6, Arcadia, Wisconsin.
Place of Birth: Poland.
Date: July 23, 1877.
If Foreign Born, Date of Entry into US: September 1879.
Father: James Lisowski - Catholic - Carpenter - Born Poland.
Mother: Mary Pepa - Catholic - Housekeeper - Born Poland.
Your Home Parish at Entrance: St. Michael, North Creek, Wisconsin.
Entered Candidature: July 17, 1892..
Received: Feb. 13, 1896.
Professed: Aug. 18, 1899.
Home Visits: Jan. 18, 1908 (father): Feb. 12, 1923 (mother).
Education: Elementary - Catholic School St. Michael (2 yrs.), Public School
Arcadia (2 yrs), St. Aloysius (3 yrs), High School Longwood, Chicago, Illinois
(4 yrs), Date of Diploma Sept. 14, 1920, College De Paul, Chicago.
I
was born in Silesia Poland., July 23, 1876, the sixth child of a family of
seven. My parents were Jacob and Mary Lisowski. When I was four years old we
sailed to America and made our home in a little town Arcadia, Wisconsin, where I
spent my happy childhood. At the age of six I was sent to a public school, there
being no Polish Catholic school in the vicinity. As soon as I was old enough
for my confession and First Holy Communion my parents sent me out to country,
North Creek, Wisconsin, to attend. school where I stayed for three years. The
next two years I went to school in Arcadia, taught by our Sisters. In 1892 when
fifteen years old I told my parents that I want to be a sister. After a few
months of pleading they at last gave their consent. July 16, 1892, I left my
dear home for Milwaukee, and received the candidates bonnet August 15, 1892.
After seven mouths in the candidature I was sent to Berlin Wisconsin, to take
charge of a class. The following year I went to Winona Minnesota - February 13,
1896, I was the Joyful recipient of the Holy Habit and entered the Novitiate
where I had the happiness of remaining six months. August twenty-fifth I was
missioned to Saint Hyacinth, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to take a class of boys.
August 18, 1899 was the happy day when I took My First Vows; and July 22, 1907
my Final Vows. After nine years of work at Saint Hyacinth I was transferred to
my present mission, Saint John Cantius Chicago, Illinois, teaching the Sixth
Grade.
