Sister Mary Bronisia Muzalewski, CSSF, 1925-2020

Sister Mary Bronisia Muzalewski, 95, a Felician Sister for 75 years, died in Harris Hill Nursing Facility, Williamsville, on Dec. 7, 2020. The former Dorothy Muzalewski was born on Sept. 27, 1925, in Buffalo, and was a member of St. Adalbert Parish. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 9, 1945, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 9, 1953. After graduating from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy in Buffalo, she furthered her education at Mount St. Joseph Teachers College (now Medaille College) in Buffalo, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education.

Sister Bronisia began her ministry of caring for children at St. Rita’s Home for Children in Getzville.  She continued directing a group of girls at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children in Cheektowaga. In 1953, she began her teaching career at Sacred Heart School in Syracuse, where she taught first grade.

Upon her return to the Diocese of Buffalo in 1959, Sister Bronisia continued teaching children at the primary grade level at St. Amelia School, Tonawanda. She taught at many schools in the diocese for 37 years. It gave her much pleasure to prepare her students to receive the sacraments of reconciliation and Communion. She was a model teacher for others and always stressed the importance of readiness in teaching.

In addition to teaching, Sister Bronisia served as the principal at St. Florian School in Buffalo, Queen of Martyrs and Our Lady of Czestochowa schools in Cheektowaga, Transfiguration School in Olean and SS. Peter & Paul School in Depew. At St. John de LaSalle School in Niagara Falls, she served as reading coordinator. She was also involved in local leadership at many convents.

From August 1996 to March 2013, Sister Bronisia resided at St. Hyacinth Convent, which was later renamed Blessed Mary Angela Convent, in Dunkirk. Here she ministered within the parish as a reading teacher and aide at the school and as sacristan in the church. Because of declining health, she became a patient at the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo on March 9, 2013.

Sister Bronisia was predeceased by her parents, Valentine and Agnes (Szmania) Muzalewski, her brothers, Bill and Edward Muzalewski, and her sisters, Sophie Mach, Florence Muzalewski, Clara Pawlak and Frances Panfil.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Sister Bronisia at a future date. Interment will take place at St. Stanislaus Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 11.