Sister Christine Marie Nizialek, CSSF, 1950-2020

Sister Christine Marie Nizialek, 70, a Felician Sister for 39 years died in Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. The former Georgianne Nizialek was born on July 20, 1950, in Buffalo. She was a member of Assumption Parish in Buffalo. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on Aug. 30, 1981, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 11, 1990. She graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy in Tonawanda. She held a bachelor of arts in Secondary Education from Canisius College in Buffalo, and a master of science degree in Administration from the University of Notre Dame du Lac in Indiana.

Initially, Sister Christine Marie was a part-time teacher and librarian at St. Josaphat School in Cheektowaga and St. John Kanty School in Buffalo. She soon moved to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Provincial House in Buffalo where she began using her clerical skills to assist the secretarial staff. Her knowledge of computers proved to be an asset to her performance.

In 1991, she began her ministry as an assistant in the business office at Villa Maria College of Buffalo. From 1998 to 2006 she held the position of business director at Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo where she also assisted in the development office.

At Blessed Mary Angela Convent, Sister Christine Marie was the receptionist for several years. For two years she served as part-time receptionist for the diocesan Office of Communications at the Catholic Center in Buffalo. In 2010, her services as receptionist were solicited at the newly formed North American Province of Our Lady of Hope in Beaver Falls, Pa. She felt very fulfilled in this ministry being able to use her skills in many ways. Unfortunately, her services terminated after four years because of serious illness. Upon her return to Buffalo, she became a patient-resident at Blessed Angela Convent. She eventually underwent a kidney transplant.

Gifted with a unique memory, one of Sister Christine Marie’s areas of expertise was that of constructing provincial chronicles. She served in this capacity at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent from 1995 to 2009.  She eventually continued this project for Our Lady of Hope Province.

Sister Christine Marie cherished her vocation to the religious life and had a constant desire to be of use to her sisters in community. She was an avid participant in the activities of the enrichment program at Blessed Mary Angela Care Center and encouraged others to get involved in projects.

Sister Christine Marie is survived by her brother John Nizialek and her sister Maxine Nizialek. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Maxine (Jok) Nizialek and her brother, Tim Nizialek.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Sister Christine Marie at a future date. Interment took place at St. Stanislaus Cemetery Dec. 1.