At the age of 102, born Sophie Kozlowski in Syracuse, New York to the late Michaeline (nee Lewandowski) and Walter Kozlowski. Loving sister of the late Richard Kozlowski, Frank Kozlowski, Lillian Wawro, Jeanne Fletcher and Virginia Moran. Also survived by nieces and nephews.

Felician Sisters and family will be present at the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Villa Maria) Convent (600 Doat) on Sunday 6-8 PM and Monday 2-5 PM. An evening Prayer Service will begin on Monday at 5 PM in the Convent Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 AM.

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

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

Sister Mary Virginis Kozlowski, CSSF, Musician and Educator

Sister Mary Virginis, 102, a Felician Sister for 84 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on August 21, 2015.  The former Sophie Kozlowski was born on September 11, 1912 in Syracuse, NY, and was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Syracuse.  She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, NY, on July 24, 1931 and professed perpetual vows on August 15, 1939.  She graduated from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Mount St. Joseph Teachers College, now known as Medaille College in Buffalo, NY. She also held a Piano Teacher Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto, at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Initially, Sister Virginis served as an elementary school teacher, in the Diocese of Syracuse, NY, for nine years, at St. Stanislaus Kotska School, Binghamton, St. Mary School, NY Mills, St. Stanislaus School, Utica, and Sacred Heart School, Syracuse.  In 1941, she was missioned to Canada where she taught the Slovak language, Music and Religious Education classes while serving as organist.  She ministered at parishes in Hamilton, Toronto, and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, for seventeen years.  During this time, Sister Virginis studied music at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Upon her return to Buffalo in 1958, Sister Virginis resumed teaching at several elementary schools.  She was music instructor at Sacred Heart High School, in Syracuse and at Bishop Colton High School in Buffalo.  In 1964, Sister Virginis began music instruction at the Institute of Music in Buffalo for three years and then returned four years later to continue until the close of the Institute in February 2008. The talent and skill of Sister Virginis as a music instructor particularly in organ and piano was well respected.  Her students consistently excelled in performance adjudications and other competitive events.  Because of her experience, she had the ability to guide her students to success even with difficult pieces.

In addition to her involvement at the Institute, Sister Virginis served as assistant organist at Villa Maria Convent beginning in 1975 and as main organist from 2004 until 2006. Sister Virginis was not only proficient in music, she was a gifted seamstress and culinary artist. She became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on August 3, 2010.  She was a mobile patient who was able to participate and enjoy various activities until her recent loss of hearing and vision.