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SR. MARY CAROLINE SIWAK O.S.B.
Born: Mar 30, 1916
Date of Passing: Oct 08, 2006
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemorySR. MARY CAROLINE SIWAK O.S.B. On Sunday, October 8, 2006 Sr. Mary Caroline Siwak O.S.B died peacefully at Seven Oaks Hospital. She was in her 68th year of Monastic Profession. Sr. Mary Caroline was born on March 30, 1916 in (the Pier) Sydney, Nova Scotia. She was the fourth oldest of sixteen children born to Roman and Karolina (Gwozdz) Siwak. Sr. Mary Caroline always spoke fondly of the Pier and the Polish Parish to which her family belonged. Sr. Mary Caroline entered the Benedictine Sisters in Arborg, MB on August 15, 1935 following the footsteps of her older sister Blanche (Sr. Zita). She made her monastic profession on January 4, 1938. She had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and throughout her life could be seen with the rosary in her hands. For most of her life, Sr. Mary Caroline ministered as a teacher. She received her Teachers' Certificate from the old Normal School on William Avenue and later her B.E.D. degree from the University of Calgary and a Fine Arts Certificate from the Banff School of Fine Arts. Sr. Mary Caroline was artistic to her very fingertips. She painted, repaired statues, framed pictures, did beautiful inscribing and embroidery work, pressed wild flowers and plants, collected odd shaped pieces of wood, birds nests, bulrushes and anything and everything in nature that caught her big brown expressive eyes. Her classrooms were always a wonderland of nature. Sr. Mary Caroline's teaching ministry extended to Holy Ghost School, Winnipeg, St. Benedict's School, Arborg, and rural schools of Manitoba, Bjarmi, Tarno, Ledwyn, Sifton and Dog Creek Indian Reserve. In Calgary she taught in the R.C. Separate Schools of St. Cecilia and St. Matthew. Upon her retirement from teaching she continued her great love of reading and art work. She would assist the Sisters with their letters to family members often in the Polish language. She tutored many Polish people from the wider Community to speak the English language. Her last several years were spent in the Community's Health Centre due to failing health. Sr. Mary Caroline was predeceased by her parents Roman and Karolina Siwak; brothers Casimir, Stanley, Anthony, Ted, and Leo; sisters Jennie, Sr. Blanche Zita, Caroline, Elizabeth, Irene (Melnick), Andzia, Leona and infant Irene. She is survived by her brother Roman of Sydney, NS and Theresa MacGillvary of St. Andrews West, ON, and many relatives and friends throughout Canada. A Vigil Service will be held on Friday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Benedict's Monastery Chapel, Winnipeg, presided by Sr. Irene Burzynski, Prioress. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m. presided by Msgr. Louis McCloskey with interment in the Monastery Cemetery. The Sisters wish to express gratitude to Dr. Bronislaw Gorski and the staff of the Monastery Health Centre for their loving care and support of Sr. Mary Caroline. May she rest in peace. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should family and friends so desire, donations may be made in Sr. Mary Caroline's memory to the Memorial Fund, St. Benedict's Foundation, 225 Masters Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R4A 2A1. Cropo Funeral Chapel 586-8044
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 12, 2006
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
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When I learned I was to be in Sister Caroline's class I cried. She had a reputation for taking a ruler to discipline her naughty students. After being in her class the rumors turned out to be true and I had the misfortune of being a recipient of said discipline. On another occasion I had a fight with a student who was actually a friend of mine. She told us to go out into the hall and kiss and make up, on the lips! As we stood in the hallway we deliberated on whether we should do it. My friend Scott said we should just do it and get it over with. I was not persuadable. Scott said she would know and I said she would never know that we didn't kiss. I remember we both looked all around us as if we would see some eyes watching even though the solid classroom door was closed. We imagined as if she were magically watching. We argued for what seemed like forever, at 7 years old apparently we both had the ability to build a case. All said and done, I won the argument. Apparently, being the youngest of six brothers (and three sisters) kissing another boy on the lips was not something you do and I had real conviction about it. We went back into the class and lied about it and it turns out she couldn't see through the walls. Whew! I think it was some time after parent / teacher interviews that things changed. You see my saint of a mother really loved Nuns and I think Sister Caroline may have been Polish like my Mom. My Mom probably would have been a Nun herself if not for her nine children. I think they really connected because after that Sister Caroline really started doting on me. In fact one day she took me in front of the class to give me praise for my school work and she kissed me right...on...the...cheek! I was mortified and embarrassed, in front of the whole class!!! No teachers kiss their students that I ever heard of anyway. Truthfully though I felt pretty special. But I also remember having so much fun in her class. She had parties for everything and she made advent really special. She even wanted me to be Baby Jesus for the Christmas play. I was pretty adorable but I was also seven. I am so thankful that I was chosen to be in her class and I look forward to seeing her again some day in the classroom in the sky. You are dearly missed Sister Caroline. - Posted by: Joe Shenfield (Grade 3 Student @ St Matthews in Calgary 1976-77) on: Jan 11, 2016