Sister Mary Presentine Ugorowski

Sister Mary Presentine served her religious community for 83 years.
July 21, 1922 — October 14, 2024

Sister Mary Presentine, Gertrude Ugorowski of Detroit, Michigan, age 102, religious 83 years, entered eternal life October 14, 2024, in Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent, Livonia, Michigan.

Felix and Frances (Tomanek) devout and hard-working parents, settled in Detroit and raised a loving family of 10 children. On July 21, 1922, Frances gave birth to triplets: Felix (Phil), Gertrude, and Raymond, followed by Edwin, Theresa (Komosinski), Richard, Norbert, Eugene, Mary Ann (Dabrowski), and John.

With so many siblings running around, Gertrude, the future SM Presentine, was like a master sergeant in charge of her brothers and sisters. Household chores were divided. While Mary cooked, Gertrude washed and ironed clothes, watered the grass, flowers, and garden, and helped wash the windows. Solicitous and loving, she cared for the younger brothers and sisters in many ways. Buggy rides were especially invigorating and provided ample time for exercise and a stroll through the neighborhood to show off the new arrivals.

Outdoor games offered most of the daily recreation, and playing “tag” was at the top of the list. Gertrude did find time for reading and enjoyed working on puzzles throughout the years. Vacations were often spent at a family cottage up North, where swimming, boating, and outdoor picnics filled the day—and sometimes carried over into the night. Shorter excursions at Belle Isle, River Rough Park, Palmer Park, or parish picnics proved delightful outings.

Since most of the relatives lived in Detroit, the children often visited grandma’s house. Instead of using money for the return bus trip home, a stop at the ice cream parlor proved much more to their satisfaction.

The children attended Our Lady Help of Christians grade school but for high school, the girls were enrolled in Felician Academy (the Seminary of the Felician Sisters in Detroit) and the boys in St. Ladislaus or Notre Dame in Detroit.

Gertrude felt the gentle call of the Lord to religious life, and a few weeks after graduation on June 15, 1941, was accepted into the Felician Congregation on June 24, 1932. Invested with the Felician habit on August 12, 1942, she received the name, Sister Mary Presentine. First profession of vows was on August 13, 1943, and final profession on August 14, 1949.

Sister Presentine was assigned to St. Stanislaus School in Detroit where she taught Grades 3-4 from 1944 – 1946. Concurrent with teaching assignments, Sister earned a Bachelor of Arts from Madonna (College) University in 1951 and a Master of Arts from University of Detroit in 1958. Education continued at Fordham University, New York where Sister Presentine received a Guidance Counselor Certificate in 1971.

Sister Presentine taught commercial classes at the high school level in the following schools: St. Casimir, St. Andrew, St. Stanislaus, Patronage of St. Joseph, and Bishop Borgess, all in Detroit; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; Holy Rosary, Saginaw; St. Florian, Hamtramck; St. Stanislaus, Bay City; Holy Rosary, Isador; Ladywood High School, Livonia; St. Sabina, Dearborn Heights; and St. Valentine, Redford.

Sister was appointed as the principal in the following schools: OL of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte (1973-1976), St. Florian, Hamtramck (1976-1978), St. Sabina, Dearborn Heights (1989-1993) , St. Joseph Home, Jackson (1993-1996)

Other ministry appointments included: Madonna University: teacher, counselor, secretary to the Alumni Director, Library Assistant, Ladywood High School: secretary to the principal, teacher, counselor, St. Mary Hospital, Livonia: Assistant Purchasing Director, Manager of Service Equipment, St. Michael, Southfield: Principal and Local Minister, Presentation Prayer Center, Jackson: Prayer Ministry

Traversing the State of Michigan, her ministry spanned a total of 67 years. This kind and gentle sister enriched many lives as an effective educator and assistant in many areas. If you wanted to meet an orderly and organized sister, you just contacted Sister Presentine on how the job should be done.

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Serving where needed since 1874

Founded in Poland in 1855, the Felician Sisters are a congregation of women religious inspired by the spiritual ideals of their foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, and Saints Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi and Felix of Cantalice. Arriving in North America in 1874 following Blessed Mary Angela’s directive “to serve where needed,” they helped to weave the social service system. Today, the Felician Sisters founded, sponsor or support through the presence of our sisters, more than 40 ministries – all continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the people they serve.

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Felician Sisters of North America