Sister Jane Marie Kupniewski, 92, a Felician Sister for 73 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on January 20, 2013. The former Jane Kupniewski was born on July 5, 1920 in Erie, PA. She was a member of Holy Trinity Parish, Erie, PA and a graduate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy in Buffalo, NY. She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, NY, on July 7, 1939 and professed perpetual vows on August 6, 1948. She furthered her education at Mount St. Joseph Teachers College, now known as Medaille College, Buffalo, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree.

Although Sister Jane Marie entered religious life in 1939, because of a serious eye infection her participation in the preparation program for religious life was delayed a year. Thus, she began her teaching ministry as woman religious in 1942. She taught on the intermediate and junior high levels in Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Buffalo for 39 years. She also taught at the Villa Maria Learning Center in Buffalo for a year. Her teaching extended to St. Stanislaus Kostka Day Care Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1948 to 1952.

In 1992, Sister Jane Marie retired from teaching and became involved in various supportive services at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Provincial House in Buffalo. She became an aide in the Provincial Archives in August 1999 and served in this capacity for 12 years.

Because of ill health, Sister Jane Marie became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on May 1, 2012. She was a kind person who was interested in others and in life. She always appreciated being acknowledged by others and being visited by them.

Sister Jane Marie is survived by nieces and nephews, She was predeceased by her parents, the late John and Bernice (Koszubowski) Kupniewski, her brother, John Chester Kupniewski and her sisters Theresa McFarland and Jean Fiolek-Potter.

A wake will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent (Villa Maria) on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, from 2–5 p.m. An Evening Prayer Service will take place Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Convent Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY.

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