Sister Mary Marcella Anne, 74, a Felician Sister for 56 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, on Good Friday, April 14, 2017.  She was a member of St. James Parish in Buffalo, NY.  The former Marcella Anne Wendzikowski was born on February 11, 1943, in Buffalo, NY.   She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, NY, on August 15, 1960, and professed perpetual vows on August 4, 1968.  She graduated from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy in Buffalo.  She furthered her education at Villa Maria College of Buffalo with an Associate in Applied Science  in Education; at D'Youville College, Buffalo,  with a Bachelor of Arts in English and at the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Indiana, with a Master of Arts in Communication Arts.  She continued her on-going education at the State University of Buffalo with courses in higher education.

Sister Marcella Anne was engaged in education on many levels.  She began teaching at the primary level for a few years.  Shortly afterward, she began teaching English and Spanish on the secondary level.  She taught at Villa Maria Academy and Bishop Colton High School in Buffalo, NY; Sacred Heart High School in Syracuse, NY; Notre Dame High School in Batavia, NY and Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda, NY, where she also served as an Assistant Principal for several years.  She was an experienced educator and a credit to her profession.

In 1983, Sister Marcella Anne became a member of the faculty for the Permanent Deacon Formation at St. Ignatius Renewal Center in Clarence, NY.  In 1979, she continued being a member of this faculty, assisting the deacons in preparation for their special ministry.  Many deacons have expressed their gratitude to her for the skills they learned in speaking and communicating.  Sister Marcella Anne was involved in this ministry for well over 30 years.

Sister Marcella Anne served at Villa Maria College of Buffalo for close to 30 years.  Her services were many and varied.  She was an instructor in English and Spanish, a Director of Public Relations and a Dircctor of Grants.  She also served as Program Coordinator of Liberal Arts for 13 years.

In addition to her ministry involvements, Sister Marcella Anne was an active participant in its undertakings of the Felician Congregation.  She was a collaborative member at Provincial Chapters and an elected delegate to a General Chapter.  She had membership and leadership roles on many provincial committees.  She also assisted as copy editor, proof reader and translator for Congregational documents.   God granted her many talents which she used and shared in community.

Her last ministerial responsibility was doing retreat work with the Oblate Fathers in Buffalo, NY.  During the past ministry year, she became very ill, underwent two major surgeries and suffered greatly until God took her to himself.  In her Jubilee Book blurb, she stated,"…my religious life has been many things – joyful, painful, lonely, demanding, rewarding, awesome-but never boring! I can't wait to see what else God has in store."

Sister Marcella Anne is survived by her brother, Rev. Msgr. Mecislaus Wendzikowski and her sister, Theresa Wendzikowski.  She was predeceased by her parents, the late Mecislaus and Martha (Monczynski) Wendzikowski.

A wake for Sister Marcella Anne will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent located at 600 Doat Street, Cheekktowaga, New York on Monday, April 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, from 3 to 5 p.m.

An Evening Prayer Service will take place on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 10 a.m. in the Convent Chapel, 600 Doat Street, Cheektowaga, New York.

Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, New York.