Sister Mary Christinette, 89, a Felician Sister for 70 years, passed away at Sisters of Charity Hospital St. Joseph Campus, in Cheektowaga, NY, on Saturday, November 7, 2020.  The former Theresa Lojewski was born on October 30, 1931 in Erie, PA to the late Gladys (nee Rutecki) and Walter Lojewski.  She was a member of St. Hedwig Parish in Erie and graduated from Erie East High School. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on February 4, 1950 and professed perpetual vows on August 13, 1957.  She furthered her education at Medaille College (Mt. St. Joseph) where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.  She also held a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Fairfield University in Connecticut.

Sister Christinette ministered basically in the field of Education.  She taught in many parochial elementary schools primarily in the Diocese of Buffalo. At St. Adalbert and St. Bernard Schools in Buffalo, NY as well as Queen of Martyrs and Resurrection Schools in Cheektowaga, NY, she served as principal, spending 23 years in this service.  Her teaching extended to Religious Education classes.  At St. Andrew Parish in Sloan, NY, she was the Director of Religious Education.  She also taught at Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo and Sacred Heart School in Syracuse, NY on the secondary level for a few years.

In addition to teaching, Sister Christinette was involved in formation ministry, recruiting and preparing young ladies for religious life.  She was a Director of Aspirants, Vocation Director and a Postulant Director. She served in local leadership and extended her services to the community at large by assisting at the General Chapter in Rome, Italy, in 2000 and serving on committees, such as, the North American Province Steering Committee as secretary for some time.  When sharing her thoughts with others on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee she wrote, "My prayer is that I can carry out the mission entrusted to me by following the example of  Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, the foundress of the Felician Congregation, who shared Jesus with all and lived her love in service to others."

Since 2002, Sister Christinette ministered in the Development Office at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent as an assistant to the Director of Development.  In 2013, she assumed the responsibility for clerical work and events planning in this office.  She became a patient in Blessed Mary Angela Convent in 2018.  She was gifted, efficient and quick in getting her tasks done.  God chose to also take her quickly and unexpectedly to himself.

Sister Christinette is survived by her cousins.  She was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Gladys (Rutecki) Lojewski.

Felician Sisters and family will celebrate a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at a future date.

Interment at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, in Cheektowaga, New York.

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

Please share a picture in our online Photo Album or a favorite memory in our Guest Book here on Sister Christinette's Tribute page.

Memorial Video