At the age of 77, born Patricia Nowak in Buffalo, New York to the late Stella (nee Ozimek) and Charles (late Helen) Nowak. Loving sister of the late Charles Nowak and Larry Bober. Also survived by cousins.

Felician Sisters and family will be present at the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Villa Maria) Convent (600 Doat) on Saturday 2-8 PM and Sunday 2-5 PM.  An evening Prayer Service will begin Sunday at 5 PM in the Convent Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM.

Interment will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, New York.

Memorials may be made to Felician Sisters, 600 Doat St., Cheektowaga, New York 14211.


Sister Mary Charlene Nowak, CSSF, Formation Director, Vicar for Religious

Sister Mary Charlene, 77, a Felician Sister for 60 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on  September 15, 2015.  The former Patricia Nowak was born on November 28, 1937 in Buffalo, NY, and was a member of Assumption Parish, Buffalo, NY.  She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo on August 17, 1955 and professed perpetual vows on August 3, 1963.  She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo, NY and furthered her education at Medaille College, Buffalo, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.  She also earned a Master of Arts in Sacred Sciences degree from St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY and post Master credits from Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, IN, and Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY.

Initially, Sister Mary Charlene ministered as a primary grade teacher at Catholic elementary schools in Buffalo, and Lowville, NY.  After twelve years of teaching, she became the Religious Education Coordinator at Holy Cross Parish in Buffalo, NY.  She also served as the Religious Education Coordinator at Resurrection Parish, Cheektowaga, NY, and Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kenmore, NY.

In 1978, Sister Charlene became the Associate Director at St. Ignatius Renewal Center where she was a retreat director and spiritual director for seven years.  During this time, she became involved in the Formation program of the Felician Sisters.  She began as the Director of Vocations and eventually directed the Formation program, Pre-Tertian Sisters, and especially the Temporary Professed Sisters for many years.  Sister Charlene also taught Religion and was Campus Minister at Villa Maria Academy of Buffalo for a short time.  She was described as a prayerful, God-centered, and gentle person who had a great devotion to Mary and was open to God's will.

Her experience in formation extended beyond her religious community.  In 1979, she began guiding permanent deacons in the formative process.  She was a faculty member and the Director of Theological Field Education at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora where she served from 1993 until 2000.  In August of 2000, Sister Charlene was appointed the Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Buffalo – a position she held until September 2008. She was elected to provincial leadership in 2007 until the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province merged with seven other provinces to form Our Lady of Hope Province in 2009.  During this time she continued her involvement in the Deaconate program.  She also coordinated weekend retreats for women at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent from 2008 to 2011.

On November 10, 2010, Sister Charlene underwent heart surgery.  Because she dealt with serious health issues since that surgery, many of her previous involvements were gradually curtailed.  She became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on March 5, 2014.  The final years of her life were spent in suffering and prayer.