Sister Mary Teresita, 89, a Felician Sister for 69 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on December 26, 2017.   The former Irene Rita Langowski was born on May 27, 1928 in Erie, PA to the late Waclaw and Marianne (Krzesniak) Langowski. She was a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Erie, PA. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on October 3, 1948 and professed perpetual vows on August 13, 1956. She graduated from St. Benedict Academy in Erie, PA. At Mount St. Joseph Teachers College, now known as Medaille College in Buffalo, NY, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. Sister Teresita was the sister of Rita Johnson and the late Wallace Langowski. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.

Initially, Sister Teresita began her ministry as a Child Care Aide at St. Rita's Home for Children in Getzville, NY. She also served in this capacity at St. Stanislaus Kostka Day Care, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and at Guardian Angel Day Care, Buffalo, NY.

Sister Teresita became involved in teaching in Catholic Elementary Schools in 1958. She taught in elementary schools for a total of twenty-seven years primarily in the Diocese of Buffalo. She also taught in the Dioceses of Syracuse, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania. She served as the principal in addition to teaching at St. James School in Depew, NY, and was the assistant principal at the Genesee-Wyoming Catholic Consolidated School in Attica, NY. Sister Teresita was very aware of the needs of her students and reached out to assist them in the learning process in every way possible. She also taught Religion to the girls attending Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo for a few years.

Making students aware of the spiritual dimension of their lives was very important to Sister Teresita. At many schools, she taught Religious Education to students after school.  She became the full-time Religious Education Coordinator in Boonville, NY and in Mayville, NY. While caring for her ailing mother, she served as Religious Education Coordinator and as the Pastoral Associate at Holy Trinity Parish in Erie, PA.

Upon her return to Buffalo in August, 2000, Sister Teresita began her ministry as Promoter of the Cause of Blessed Mary Angela, the foundress of the Felician Sisters. She was dedicated to this ministry for sixteen years. In July, 2004, she also became an aide to the Provincial Treasurer, now know as the Finance Liaison. Sister served in this capacity until she became ill in November 2017.

At the time of her 50 ^th anniversary in religious life, Sister Teresita wrote, "The greatest treasure in my spiritual life is, was and will be to seek the Lord in a directed retreat. My directed retreats proved that God loves me and is always with me." She was ever grateful for these grace-filled opportunities spent with her ever-loving, faithful God.

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

Interment will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, New York.

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