October 1, 1940 — October 26, 2024
Sister Paula Marie, of Buffalo, NY, age 84, a Felician Sister for 66 years, entered eternal life on Saturday, October 26, 2024, in Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, Buffalo, NY.
The former Gertrude Skalski was born on October 1, 1940, in Buffalo, NY, and was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish. She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, NY, on June 22, 1958, and professed perpetual vows on August 16, 1966. She graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Medaille (Mount St. Joseph) College and a Master of Arts from St. Joseph College, West Hartford, CT.
Sister Paula Marie began her ministry as a Felician Sister in 1961 at St. Josaphat School, Cheektowaga, NY, where she taught first grade. An excellent primary grade teacher, she served in the Diocese of Buffalo as an educator for twenty years and in the Diocese of Ogdensburg for two years. Her passion for teaching younger children and the desire to build strong readers led her to Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, WI, where she added the title of Reading Specialist to her teaching credentials. While teaching in the pre-kindergarten program at Our Lady of Black Rock School, Buffalo, NY, Sister Paula Marie initiated an extended-day program to accommodate the needs of the students and their parents. The program offered important foundational skills for its young students.
Sister Paula Marie also had a missionary heart, eager to share in the Congregation’s mission to “cooperate with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world.” From 1970-75, she ministered at Mary Immaculate School, São Paulo, Brazil, as a primary grade teacher and instructor of English to students of multilingual backgrounds. Upon her return to the United States, she taught for one year at Villa Maria Learning Center and was involved in parish ministry at Holy Cross Parish. Once again, called to serve in Brazil, Sister Paula returned to Sao Paulo to work in parish ministry at Our Lady Help of Christians Church from 1979-84. Then Sister Paula was involved in parish ministry at Holy Cross, St. John Kanty and St. Valentine parishes in Buffalo, NY, and Holy Spirit Parish, North Collins, NY.
Ministering as a teacher, missionary, and parish minister, Sister Paula fulfilled her early desire to help children with reading difficulties and to serve the Church. Ready to offer compassionate service wherever she was needed, Sister Paula also ministered in many ways to the sisters at Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, Buffalo, NY. She was a member of the pastoral care team, a chauffeur and receptionist, but above all else, in the spirit of Blessed Mary Angela, she sought to be to her sisters and all those she encountered. Even as her own health began to diminish, Sister Paula remained present to her sisters. When she celebrated her Golden Jubilee of religious life, Sister Paula Marie gratefully acknowledged “the goodness and blessings that have been realized in [her] life as a member of the Felician Congregation.”
An Evening Prayer Service was held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent on Monday, October 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. in the convent chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the convent chapel. Rev. Richard Jedrzejewski was presider and homilist; Rev. Louis Lougen, OMI, concelebrated.
Speaking about Sister Paula’s life in his homily, Father Richard recalled how she advocated for her students while missioned at Assumption Parish in Buffalo, where he was pastor. Many students were of multicultural backgrounds and learning English as a second language. To maximize the learning experience for her students, Sister Paula requested tables for her classroom. Gathering her students she not only opened their minds but also their hearts to the love of God. Today, Sister Paula brings us the table of the as we celebrate her life, centered in service of the Gospel, in thanksgiving for the blessing she has been to family, friends, those she served and her sisters in community. In closing, Father Richard fondly remarked that Sister Paula was not only a dedicated reading specialist, but that she was “special in her own right” finding completeness in her ministry and life as a Felician Sister.
Sister Paula Marie was buried in the Blessed Mary Angela Section, St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY.
