Sister Mary Patricia
DETROIT – Sister Mary Patricia, Cecilia Pyszynski, of Detroit, Michigan, completed her life’s journey of 93 years on April 17, 2020 in Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent, Livonia, Michigan. Sister was in religious life for 75 years.
The former Cecilia Pyszynski, was the first of seven children of John and Veronica (Balcerak). At the age of 10 she was afflicted with polio and was unable to walk for a year.Through therapy she gradually regained the use of her limb.

She entered the Seminary of the Felician Sisters in Detroit in 1940, and after graduation, June 11, 1944, was admitted to the postulancy on June 29, 1944. During the investiture ceremonies the following year, Cecilia received the name, Sister Mary Patricia. Final profession of vows was in 1952.
Sister Mary Patricia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Madonna (College) University and a Master of Arts in religious education from Aquinas College. On a journey that spanned 60 years in the ministry of education, 31 years were in teaching and 29 years as Director in religious education.
Sister taught primary grades in nine different schools within the Archdiocese of Detroit. In other dioceses Sister taught at: St. Joseph Jackson; St. Mary Alpena; St. Stanislaus Ludington; St. Cecilia Clare; Holy Spirit and St. Jude Grand Rapids; St. Hyacinth Bay City; and St. Stanislaus Dorr.
Sister Patricia was permanently transferred to St. Joseph Convent in 2007 where she continued to be active in pastoral ministry until 2011. Her health steadily declined, and she was placed in hospice care. Her life peacefully ebbed away and on April 17, 2020, Sister Mary Patricia slipped into the Lord’s embrace and journeyed to eternity.
Internment was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan on April 22, 2020.

Sister Mary Alice Ann
BAY CITY, Mich. – Sister Mary Alice Ann, Alice Gradowski, of Bay City, Michigan, entered eternal life April 25, 2020 while in St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, Michigan. Sister was 73 years old and was in religious life for 55 years.
Born on May 5, 1946 Alice was the fifth of five children born to Stanley and Alphonsa (Andrzejewski): Virgil, Ernest and Robert; and one sister – Maxine Kolat. Alice was baptized and confirmed at St. Hedwig Church in Bay City, Michigan where she also attended the parish grade school.
Following graduation 1960, she attended Felician Academy in Detroit, Michigan. In June 1964, Alice was accepted as a postulant to the Felician Congregation, and the following year, at the Investiture Ceremony, she received the name of Sister Mary Fernanda, later changed to Sister Mary Alice Ann. Final vows were professed in 1973.
Sister Alice Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Madonna University in Livonia and a Master of Arts from Eastern Michigan University in preparation for a ministry of education that spanned thirty-six years. For the first 13 years, Sister mainly taught primary grades at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; St. Valentine, Kawkawlin; and St. Christine, Detroit. For the next 23 years Sister was assigned as principal at St. Dunstan, Garden City; St. Joseph, Jackson; St. Hyacinth, Bay City; and St. Thecla, Clinton Township.
As principal, Sister was involved in many extracurricular activities: Eucharistic minister, parish council, teaching in the R.C.I.A. program, conducting Share-the Word discussion groups and participating in week-end renewals. Attendance at basketball and soccer games, school dances and parish raffles were also an important part of her life as principal.
Sister Alice Ann served as local minister of several of the convents for a total of 14 of years. When the Presentation Central Convent held elections in the year 2000, Sister Alice Ann was elected to the Livonia Provincial Administration as Third Councilor and director of education until 2006.
Following a short residence St. Francis Home in Saginaw and a final assignment at St. Stanislaus Convent, Bay City, Michigan, Sister retired to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent, Livonia. Assigned to dining room assistant and the ministry of prayer, sister performed her duties joyfully for 12 years. One of the first sisters in chapel in the early hours of morning, sister could be seen scurrying down the corridors in her wheelchair to visit the Blessed Sacrament and join in community prayer.
In early April her health began to decline, and Sister was taken to St. Mary Mercy Hospital. On April 25, 2020, during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sister Alice Ann left this earth for her final journey to the God whom she served with joy for 55 years in religious life.
Interment was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery on April 29.