Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle

Sister Mary WalczewskiLACEY

Benedictine Sister Mary Walczewski, a founding member of St. Placid Priory, died Feb. 20. She was 90.

Born in Gilman, Minnesota, she entered St. Benedict’s Convent in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and made her monastic profession on July 11, 1946. She joined the staff at St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota.

She served her monastic community at Visitation Parish convent, Tacoma; Holy Rosary convent, Tacoma; All Saints convent, Puyallup, where she also filled in as second-grade teacher one year; and St. Placid Priory, Lacey.

She earned her Licensed Practical Nurse degree in 1966. She worked at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and nursed sick and frail sisters. She also did cooking, sewing and housekeeping at the priory.

In her later years, she became a fiber artist, spinning wool and often winning awards at county fairs. She enjoyed working in the yard and felt a strong sense of stewardship of the earth, her community said. She had a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and prayed at least three rosaries daily.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Julie; sisters Agatha, Frances, Gertrude and Helen; and brother Roman. She is survived by her brothers Stanley, Bernard, Joseph, Dominic, James and Isidore; sister Rose; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 26 at St. Placid Priory.