SISTER MELANIA CHERKOWSKI

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SISTER MELANIA (HEDWIG) CHERKOWSKI, O.S.B. Surrounded by praying companions, Sister Melania Cherkowski died peacefully on Wednesday, July 3, 2002 at St. Benedicts Monastery Health Centre. She was in her 71st year of Monastic Profession. Sister Melania was born in Krzemieniewo, Poland on August 21, 1908, the youngest of nine children. She immigrated to Canada as a young woman with her brothers, Casimer and Stanley, who were employed in farming in Arborg, MB. The three of them maintained a close family relationship throughout their lives. Sister Melania entered the Sisters of St. Benedict in Arborg and made her monastic profession on August 19, 1931. Throughout her long life, until struck with a debilitating illness in her declining years, she was a model of prayer and an unhurried but steady manner of cheerful commitment to her God, her community, and her ministry. No task was too trivial, no request went unheeded, as she pursued her much loved career in homemaking. She ministered faithfully and always with a song on her lips at St. Pauls College on Ellice Avenue, Holy Ghost and St. Marys rectories in Winnipeg, the hospitals in Russell, Birtle, Gimli and Winnipegosis, Camp Morton, and lastly St. Benedicts Monastery in Winnipeg. Sister Melania was predeceased by her parents, Valentine and Michalina (Antkiewicz) Cherkowski; four sisters, Kazimierza, Ludwika, Emilia and Sophie; her four brothers, Aloysius, Joseph, Casimer and Stanley. She is survived by her cousins, Joe (Olga) Antkiewicz of Melville, Mary (Stephen) Depko of Saskatoon; a niece Ela Przymski; and numerous other relatives of Wloclawek, Poland; and the members of her Monastic Community. A special Community Monastic Vespers Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 5 at St. Benedicts Monastery Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 6 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Benedicts Monastery, presided by Msgr. Stan Jaworski. Interment will follow in the Monastery Cemetery. The Benedictine Sisters would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Margaret Reda and the health care staff of St. Benedicts Monastery and St. Josephs Residence for their compassionate care of Sister Melania. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should friends so desire, donations may be made in Sister Melanias memory to St. Benedicts Foundation, 225 Masters Ave., Winnipeg, MB R4A 2A1. May she rest in peace singing Gods praise for ever. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 05, 2002