Sister Mary Patricia, 81, a Felician Sister for 63 years, died in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.  The former Josephine Tomasik was born on March 6, 1938 in Buffalo, NY and was a member of St. Valentine's Parish in Buffalo.  She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 7, 1955 and professed perpetual vows on August 16, 1965.  After graduating from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY, she furthered her education at Medaille College, Buffalo, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.  She also held a Master of Science in Education degree from State University of New York College at Buffalo and a Master of Science degree from The Canisius College of Buffalo.

Sister Patricia began her ministry as a teacher at Guardian Angel Day Care Center in Buffalo, NY.  She continued teaching at several Catholic Elementary Schools in the Diocese of Buffalo for six years.  At Cantalician Center for Learning, she was a special education teacher for two years.

In 1968, she began her ministry in Canada as a primary grade teacher and music teacher in elementary schools.  At St. Nicholas School in St. Catherine, Ontario, she was a special education teacher for seven years.  From 1977 to 1983, Sister Patricia served on the Leadership team at Holy Name of Mary Vice-Province in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.  During her term of office, she was the secretary and formation coordinator.  She also directed several formative groups of sisters.

After fifteen years in Canada she returned to the United States, and became the supervisor at Cantalician North Campus in Buffalo, NY, where she worked with the disabled. She held various positions at Cantalician Center including, Supervisor of the School Age Program, Program Director, and Assistant Director.  In 1990, she became the Executive Director, a position she held for seventeen years.

In 2011, Sister Patricia joined the sisters at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent where she mainly served as a chauffeur and receptionist.  Two years later, she became a member of the Blessed Mary Angela Convent where she continued chauffeuring the elderly and sick at Blessed Mary Angela Care Center.  On July 1, 2016, Sister Patricia assumed the responsibility of serving as the local minister at this convent.  Because of serious illness, she resigned this position on June 30, 2017.  Though she suffered greatly, Sister Patricia continued to be kind and caring toward the sisters in community.  In an entry in a Jubilee Book when celebrating 60 years in community, she wrote, "The ups and downs in life were not easy and there were times that I experienced emotional and spiritual struggles.  However, with the help of my Superiors and friends, my faith was restored to the realization of God's love for me."

Sister Patricia is survived by her brothers, Felix "Phil" and Paul Tomasik, nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her parents, the late Stanley and Florence (Dembska) Tomasik, her brothers, Stanley, Jr. and Ray Tomasik and her sister, Mary Ann Borowski.

A Wake for Sister Patricia will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Central Convent Wednesday, June 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, June 13, from 2 to 5 p.m .  An Evening Prayer Service will take place on Thursday at 5 pm. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel (Villa Maria).  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Convent Chapel.

Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY.

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