Sister Maura Fortkort, who spent nearly 50 years as teacher and administrator, died June 21, 2025, at Mount St. Mary Hospital, Lewiston. She was 93. The former Maryann Fortkort was born May 17, 1932, in Buffalo to Albert and Mary (O’Donnell) Fortkort. After graduating from the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Sister Maura entered […]
Teacher and tutor Sister M. Alice Metzger, OSF, died on March 7, 2025, at Stella Niagara Health Center at the age of 94. Born Elaine Metzger in Columbus, Ohio, on April 11, 1930, she is the daughter of John and Alice (Boley) Metzger. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis order on Sept. 1, 1948, […]
Sister Carol Schwartz, SSMN, also known as Sister Mary Paul, died peacefully at McAuley Residence in Kenmore Feb. 5, 2024. She was 91 years old. Born Sept. 26, 1932, to Raymond and Florence (Tepas) Schwartz, Sister Carol entered the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur order in August 1950 and made her perpetual vows nine […]
Sister Miriam Joseph Nowicki passed away on April 12, 2022, at the Franciscan Villa in Syracuse. She was 91 years of age and had been a Sister of St. Francis for 68 years. Louise Margaret Nowicki was born one of six children to Stephen and Sophie (Szwejbka) Nowicki in Buffalo, and received her baptism, first […]
Sister Patricia Healy, a longtime teacher, died April 6, 2022, at Stella Niagara Health Center. The former Sister M. Doreen was 92. The daughter of William and Mary Ann (McMahon) Healy was born March 14, 1930, in Buffalo. She attended Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart and Rosary Hill College (now Daemen) in Amherst, before […]
Sister Christine Diensberg, OSF, the former Sister M. Chiara, died March 2, 2022, at Stella Niagara Health Center, Stella Niagara. She was 81. The daughter of the late Robert and the late Rose Bilger Diensberg was born Oct. 27, 1940, in Buffalo. Sister Christine attended Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, followed by Rosary Hill […]
Sister Helen Therese Pelc died peacefully on Oct. 17, 2021, at St. Francis Park in the 91st year of life and the 72nd year of religious life. Sister Helen Therese was born on June 26, 1930, in Auburn, to Walter and Stella (Tarby) Pelc. She attended St. Hyacinth’s School in Auburn, where she first met […]
