At the age of 78, born Theresa Smigielski in Buffalo, NY to the late Frances (nee Glowczak) and Vincent Smigielski.  Loving sister of the late Ted Smigielski and Peter Smigielski, who died in infancy.

Felician Sisters and family will be present at the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Villa Maria) Convent (600 Doat) on Tuesday 2-5 PM.  An evening Prayer Service will will begin on Tuesday at  5 PM in the Convent Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday 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 Francelette Smigielski, CSSF, Educator, Pastoral Minister
Sister Mary Francelette Smigielski, 78, a Felician Sister for 61 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on Saturday, December 5, 2015. The former Theresa Smigielski was born on March 22, 1937 in Buffalo, NY. Since she was five years old, she lived at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children in Cheektowaga, NY. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters, on July 16, 1954, and professed perpetual vows on August 3, 1962. She graduated from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY, and furthered her education at Mount Saint Joseph College, now known as Medaille College, Buffalo, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also earned a Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate from St. Jude Center in Buffalo, NY.

Early in religious life, Sister Francelette spent a year at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, ministering at a Day Care Center. Upon her return, she began teaching in Catholic elementary schools within the Diocese of Buffalo. She was a conscientious teacher who had excellent rapport with her children, encouraging them to learn. She taught primary and intermediate grades for twenty-four years in the diocese. At Sacred Heart of Jesus School, Batavia, NY, and SS. Peter and Paul School, Depew, NY, she also served as principal. In most parishes, she was involved in teaching and coordinating religious education classes where she prepared many students for the sacraments.

Sister Francelette was a Reading Coordinator at St. Casimer School, Buffalo, NY, for a few years. At St. Luke Parish in Buffalo, she served as the parish ministry coordinator and folk group director. On January 8, 1989, she received the Patriot Award sponsored by the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, which was given to an outstanding Catholic for their work in church and community.

In 1990, Sister Francelette began her ministry as a chaplain at St. Joseph Intercommunity Hospital, Buffalo, NY. She continued serving as chaplain for eight years at the State of New York Health Center in Syracuse, NY.   Being a caring and compassionate person, Sister Francelettte thoroughly enjoyed ministering to the sick as a hospital chaplain. She became a patient in Villa Maria Infirmary, now known as the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on December 9, 2000 when she suffered a stroke. She belonged to the Pastoral Care Team there and served the sisters until her health did not allow her to continue.