At the age of 95, born Anne Zalewski to the late Margaret (Nietupski) and Chester Zalewski.  Loving sister of Raymond Laski and the late Joseph Zalewski, Frank Zalewski, Helen Yesko and Florence Szkotnicki. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

Felician Sisters and Family will be present at the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Villa Maria) Convent, 600 Doat St., on Thursday 2-5 PM. An Evening Prayer Service will begin at 5 PM in the Convent Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10 AM.

Interment will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY.

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


Sister Mary Hope Zalewski, CSSF, educator

Sister Mary Hope, 95, a Felician Sister for 77 years, died in  the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on August 12, , 2015.   The former Anne Zalewski was born on June 3, 1920, in Erie, PA.   She was a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Erie.  She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 8, 1938 and professed perpetual vows on August 12, 1946.  After graduating from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY, she furthered her education at Mount St. Joseph Teachers College, now known as Medaille College in Buffalo, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education degree.

Sister Hope began her ministry in Education as a 4 ^th grade teacher at St. Hyacinth School, Dunkirk, NY.  She served as a full-time teacher at Catholic elementary schools within the Diocese of Buffalo for  a total of 37 years.  Her teaching extended to schools within the Diocese of Syracuse for 6 years.  She spent a year teaching at Infant Jesus Child Care Center in Perry, NY.  At St. Alfred School in St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada, she taught at the Junior High level.  In addition to teaching, she served as principal at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Binghamton, NY, and Queen of Martyrs School, Cheektowaga, NY.  She was very conscientious in preparing for her classes and in teaching her students.

Her teaching skills were utilized in many ways in the field of education.  At several parishes in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, she coordinated the religious education program.  She served as Librarian at several Catholic elementary schools for nine years.  In 1996, she helped in various ways at Villa Maria College of Buffalo and then continued assisting at Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo.

In 2006, SM Hope became a member of St. Francis Residence Convent where she continued to help the sisters in many ways.  Due to physical weakness, she became a member of the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in May 2012.  While residing at the Care Center, Sister Hope spent much time in prayer and suffering.