Obituary of Sr. O.S.B.

Sr. Mary Bernard (Mary Margaret) Dawidowich, O.S.B. In the early morning of May 4, 2009, with a community member praying at her side, Sr. Mary Bernard Dawidowich passed away at St. Joseph's Residence. She was in her 78th year of monastic profession. Sr. Mary Bernard was born on June 22, 1914 in the little hamlet of Krasne (later Wishart), Saskatchewan. Her parents John and Michalina (Angielski) Dawidowich had emigrated to Canada in 1910 after the birth of their second child to take advantage of the 160 acres of free land offered under the Homestead Act of 1862. Sr. Mary Bernard was the fifth oldest of eight children which included a pair of twin girls, one of whom died at birth. Following in the footsteps of her second cousin, Sr. Pauline Angielski, Sr. Mary Bernard entered the Sisters of St. Benedict in Arborg, Manitoba August 19, 1929 at the tender age of 15. She made her monastic profession also on August 19th, but in 1931. She was a gentle, faith-filled, prayerful person with an open, friendly personality and an infectious giggle. She loved being with people and being of assistance to them. She was very devoted to her religious community and family members. She was known for doing good deeds well. Sr. Mary Bernard's main ministries in the community were bedside nursing and pastoral care. She spent 46 years caring for the sick in the hospitals of Sacred Heart, Russell, Johnson Memorial, Gimli and Winnipegosis Mossey River, Winnipegosis. When she retired from active nursing care she continued to minister in pastoral care to the elderly in Russell, Manitoba. Her joy in life was to be of service whenever and however she was needed. When she finally retired in August 2003 at the age of 89, she returned to St. Benedict's Monastery where she resided in the Health Care Centre, and since August 2007, at St. Joseph's Residence. Sr. Mary Bernard was predeceased by her parents John and Michalina, her brothers Joseph, Stanley and Marion and sisters Frances, Annie, Julie and Jean. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, many friends and the members of her Religious Community. The Vigil Service will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Benedict's Monastery Chapel, presided by Sr. Virginia Evard, Prioress. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. presided by Msgr. Louis McClosky at St. Benedict's Monastery Chapel with interment following in the Monastery Cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should family and friends so desire, donations may be made in Sr. Mary Bernard's memory to St. Benedict's Foundation, 225 Masters Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R4A 2A1. The Sisters wish to express their gratitude to Dr. B. Gorski, the staff of the Monastery Health Centre and St. Joseph Residence, and to her faithful nephew, Bernard and Sandy Dawidowich for their loving care and support of Sr. Mary Bernard. May she rest in peace.