At the age of 78, born Barbara Nowak, in Buffalo, New York to the late Mary (Tatko) and John Nowak. Loving sister of Daniel Nowak. She is also survived by a niece and a nephew.

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

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

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

A gathering will be held at a future date. Please check back for updates to this information. In the meantime, please share a picture in our online Photo Album or a favorite memory in our Guest Book here on Sister Juanita's Tribute page.

Sister Juanita's Memorial Video....https://vimeo.com/415651449

Sister Mary Juanita Nowak, CSSF, Director of Nursing

Sister Mary Juanita, 78, a Felician Sister for 60 years died in the Blessed Mary Angela Convent, Buffalo, NY, on May 6, 2020. The former Barbara Nowak was born on February 2, 1942, in Buffalo, NY, and was a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Buffalo. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on June 28, 1959, and professed perpetual vows on August 5, 1967. After graduating from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY, she furthered her education at Villa Maria College of Buffalo where she earned an Associate in Applied Science degree. She also held a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Medaille (Mount St. Joseph Teachers) College, Buffalo, NY, an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing from Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, a Certificate for Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and a Specialist Certificate for Practitioners from State University of New York at Buffalo, a Certificate for Parish Nursing and a New York State Registered Professional Nurse License.

As a Felician Sister, SM Juanita was an elementary grade teacher for eight years. She also spent a year teaching General Science at Villa Maria Academy where she returned several times to instruct the students in Health courses. Though she felt she made a positive difference in the lives of her students, she pursued studies toward a nursing degree.

In August 1973, SM Juanita was named Director of Nursing at Villa Maria Infirmary, Buffalo, NY. For three years, she also worked as a general duty nurse in the medical-surgical unit at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. In order to be of more service to the sisters, she pursued studies and became a staff nurse practitioner in 1980. She was a very dedicated Director of Nursing, having the best interests of the sisters at heart. She served in this capacity for 30 years.

SM Juanita accepted the challenge of extending her nursing experience to that of Parish Nurse in January 2003 when she ministered at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kenmore, NY, for three years. She later returned to this parish to assist as Outreach Director for eight years. Between these ministries, she assisted at Response to Love Center, St. Francis Residence Convent, and as a sacristan at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent.

Because of health issues, SM Juanita became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in September 2013. In addition to praying for others, she was involved in MIDS data entry, hospitality, and correspondence. In all her experiences, it gave her deep satisfaction to be available to others – to which she believed God called her initially.