Thirteen nuns from the same convent in Michigan tragically passed away, whereas twelve of them succumbed to their disease in just one month.
The massive loss of lives occurred at Livonia’s convent of the Felician Sisters where a deadly wave of coronavirus caused 13 nuns aged between 69 and 99 to die.
According to the reports, twelve of the deceased nuns at the convent died from COVID-19 in just one month. Meanwhile, nearly two dozen other nuns were diagnosed with the disease, whereas some are reportedly still ill.
Prior to the pandemic, the convent was home to 65 sisters of whom many had been working as teachers.
As the Livonia convent superior, Sr. Mary Andrew Budinski, explained to the Global Sisters Report, the outbreak within the convent “went through like wildfire.”
“I get chills thinking about that. The raw grief is yet to come, I think,” Budinski expressed.
While strict restrictions, including an end of group events, visitations, and even Communion services, were put in place to decrease the risks, the virus had found its way in and aides began falling ill.
“I first heard two aides had contracted the virus. We don’t know who they are, and we don’t want to know. Then it hit sisters on the second floor, and it went through like wildfire,” Sister Andrew added.
On April 10, the first coronavirus-caused death occurred at the convent as 99-year-old Sr.point 395 |
Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak succumbed to the disease.point 41 | By May 10, eleven more nuns passed away after contracting the killer bug.point 102 | The last COVID-19 death at the convent took place on June 27, marking the 13th victim at the convent who perished from the disease.point 210 | 1
“There are some days when I say, ‘God, we have 12 sisters up there, just like the 12 apostles,’” Sister Nancy Jamroz said weeks prior to the 13th coronavirus death at the convent.
“Anyone who knew those sisters knows they have companions now. They’re looking down, letting us know it’s going to be OK.”
Testing positive for COVID-19 amid the outbreak was also Sr. Andrew who admitted she thought she wasn’t going to make it through.
“I surrendered to that. I said, ‘God, if you’re going to take me, I’m ready.’ Then I woke up the next morning and I was still alive. Then somehow, I got better,” she said.
The thirteen victims of the Livonia’s convent of the Felician Sisters who died from COVID-19 include:
SR.point 91 | MARY LUIZA WAWRZYNIAK, 99 – Died on April 10
SR.point 132 | CELINE MARIE LESINSKI, 92 – Died on April 12
SR.point 173 | MARY ESTELLE PRINTZ, 95 – Died on April 12
SR.point 212 |
THOMAS MARIE WADOWSKI, 73 – Died on April 15
SR.point 41 | MARY PATRICIA PYSZYNSKI, 93 – Died on April 17
SR.point 84 | MARY CLARENCE (ADELINE) BORKOSKI, 83 – Died on April 20
SR.point 135 | ROSE MARY WOLAK, 86 – Died on April 21
SR.point 170 | MARY JANICE (MARGARET) ZOLKOWSKI, 86 – Died on April 22
SR.point 221 |
MARY ALICE ANN (FERNANDA) GRADOWSKI, 73 – Died on April 25
SR.point 53 | VICTORIA MARIE INDYK, 69 – Died on April 26
SR.point 93 | MARY MARTINEZ (VIRGINIA) ROZEK, 87 – Died on April 28
SR.point 142 | MARY MADELEINE (FRANCES) DOLAN, 82 – Died on May 10
SR.point 189 | MARY DANATHA (LOTTIE) SUCHYTA, 98 – Died on June 27point 233 | 1
May their souls rest in peace.
Replaced!