Sister Mary Dolorita Sierszynski
Born to earthly life: November 14, 1926
Religious profession: July 31, 1947
Entered eternal Life: August 27, 2010
Leona was born in Milwaukee to Thomas and Gertrude Sierszynski on November 14, 1926. Her father died of a hemorrhage when she was in sixth grade, leaving her mother to raise their six children. Leona inherited her father’s tailoring skills. She was a whiz with a needle, be it on a machine or in her hand. Her embroidery work was exquisite.
After her elementary education at St. Hyacinth’s, she spent two years at Girls Junior Trade High in Milwaukee. She had always found study very hard, but loved to help the Sisters at St. Hyacinth with church work. In her autobiography, she states that the sisters at her home parish were the best friends she ever had and spent most of the time with them, especially helping them with any domestic work. As the years progressed, she acquired many more friends who were faithful to the very end of her life.
The numerous missions at which sister served gives some scope of her work. She served as cook, homemaker, housekeeper, and gave service to the elderly, to name just a few. At one time, Sister cared for an invalid boy, Austin, while his mother tended to the numerous domestic duties with the house and another child. His mother, Amy Sobczak, was present at the funeral and gave her own tribute to sister by singing the “Ave Maria” as part of the wake service.
Sister Dolorita, affectionately known as Dolly, was an excellent cook. She had a special gift of preparing leftovers that somehow made the S.O.S. (same old stuff) into a tasty new creation. In her years at Mount Calvary and other numerous places, she rose in the wee hours of the morning so that Sisters would have bakery fresh from the oven for breakfast.
“Throughout her life, Dolly was a steady worker in the vineyard, no matter the season,” Sister Joan Emily Kaul said of her toward the end of her eulogy. “She surely bore the heat of the day and labored faithfully during the entire time for which the Master had hired her. Can’t you see that transforming smile break out when the Bridegroom said, ‘Come.’ She could break the paralysis that bound her at the end of her life and answer eagerly, ‘Here I am Lord. I am Yours FOREVER.’”
– Sister Dorothy Land, SSND
Sister Dolorita served as a homemaker for over 50 years. She shared her many talents as seamstress, cook, baker, laundress, companion and caretaker. With retirement in 1998, she continued to provide for others through her loving prayers and presence.
Sister Dolorita’s ministry locations included:
- Messmer High School, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Motherhouse, Milwaukee, Wis.
- SS Peter and Paul, Huntington, Ind.
- Academy of Our Lady, Chicago, Ill.
- St. Hyacinth, Milwaukee, Wis.
- St. John, Marshfield, Wis.
- St. Joseph, Escanaba, Mich.
- Sacred Hearts, Sun Prairie, Wis.
- Motherhouse, Mequon, Wis.
- St. Elizabeth, Milwaukee, Wis.
- St. Michael, Milwaukee, Wis.
- St. Mary, Menasha, Wis.
- Sacred Heart, Appleton, Wis.
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mount Calvary, Wis.
- Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, Wis.
Sister Mary Dolorita Sierszynski is survived by her sister Deloris Soike and her brothers Ralph Sierszynski and Tom Siers, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and the SSND Community. A Wake Service and Mass of Christian Burial were celebrated September 2 at Holy Family Chapel, Notre Dame of Elm Grove, 13105 Watertown Plank Road. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the School Sisters of Notre Dame Retirement Fund is appreciated.
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