September 29, 1925 — March 11, 2026
Sister Agnes Marie Lewandowski, 100, died in Mother of Good Counsel Convent in Chicago, Illinois, after 82 years in religious life.
Sister Agnes Marie was born in Chojnice, Nebraska, on September 29, 1925, to Alexander and Marianne Lewandowski. At her Baptism on October 1, 1925, in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Choynice, Nebraska, she was given the name Leona Anna. She was the third oldest of eight children. Her brothers were Leonard, Ernest, Dennis, and Henry; her sisters were Loretta, Phyllis, and Louise.
Leona Anna was confirmed on May 30, 1937, in St Josaphat Church in Loup City, Nebraska. She attended the Catholic School in Loup City in junior high, staying with her grandmother. In a jubilee article, she attributes the sisters’ joyful and prayerful spirit that lit a spark in her. She felt called to be a Felician Sister.
Leona Anna entered the aspirancy on August 9, 1939, from St. Francis Parish, Ashton, Nebraska, and attended Good Counsel High School in Chicago, IL. On August 2, 1943, Leona was accepted into postulancy and then was missioned to teach second grade at Holy Innocents School in Chicago. She was invested as a novice on August 12, 1944, receiving the religious name of Sister Mary Agnetis. Her Final Profession of Vows was celebrated on August 15, 1951. When Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province was formed in 1953, Sister Mary Agnetis became a part of that province. When the sisters had the opportunity to change their names, Sister Mary Agnetis became Sister Agnes Marie.
Sister Agnes Marie received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from St. Mary’s College in Xavier, Kansas. Sister received her Masters of Education also in Elementary Education and a Certificate in Pastoral Studies at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, TX.
Sister Agnes Marie ministered to children as a primary teacher for 47 years. Her teaching ministry began here in Illinois, in Chicago, Peru, and Joliet. She also taught in Marinette, Wisconsin, and in Leavenworth, Kansas. As a member of the Assumption of BVM province, Sister Agnes Marie was missioned to teach in St. Joseph, Missouri; St. Mary’s, Nebraska; Birmingham, Alabama; Cestohowa and Panna Maria (public school), Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Anaheim, California.
When Sister Agnes Marie retired from full-time teaching ministry, religious education became her focus. For twenty-five years, she taught religious classes or was Director of Religious Education. One year in Bremond, Texas, and twenty-four years at San Ysidro (St. Isidore) Parish in Corrales, New Mexico, not very far from Rio Rancho. Then in the summers, she and other sisters would evangelize or have Bible Vacation School in southern New Mexico communities, especially in Hatch, the chili capital of the world. Friends of Sister Agnes owned an onion farm, so after the harvest, we would be blessed with a gray sack of onions. People would be so happy that the sisters came for summer ministry; they were happy to share what they had.
Sister Agnes Mary came from a musical family; both of her parents and at least one brother played instruments. The sisters taught her piano in grade school, and Sister Agnes enjoyed the blessing of several courses in liturgy & music at Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri.
Music was a part of her ministry in the schools and the parishes where she served. Whenever possible, she provided organ lessons. When she ministered to the Assumption of BVM, Sister Agnes Marie was very active in liturgy planning and playing.
Other facets of Sister Agnes Marie’s ministry included: Principal at Blessed Mother of the Angels School in St. Mary’s, Nebraska; librarian; local minister; community councilor; vocation contact; regional coordinator; sacristan; and a volunteer at St. Felix Pantry, Rio Ranch, NM.
If Sister Agnes Marie’s fingers were not on piano or organ keys, then they were crocheting hand towels for the Ladies Auxiliary or our gift shop here to sell, or for gifts. She also did intricate crocheted Christmas corsages, plastic needlepointed crosses, and countless other arts & crafts. She continued her work even as her eyesight was failing.
Sister Agnes Marie celebrated her Silver Jubilee on August 6, 1968, her Golden Jubilee on July 9, 1993, and her Diamond Jubilee in the summer of 2018. The following October of the same year, Sister Agnes Marie became a member of the local community of Mother of Good Counsel.
And what sustained this woman, this sister who was so dedicated and committed to sharing her talents of teaching and music with the people of God, was her prayer life. She would spend long periods of time in the chapel, sometimes praying with arms upright with a rosary in her hand, even though she would also be here for the rosary in common.
Jesus in the Eucharist was her life source, Jesus was her breath of life, her heartbeat. Sister Agnes gave her life to Jesus for the people of God in our community. No doubt, Sister Agnes Marie’s heart is full of joy. Her Spouse and Lord came and took her home to be with Him forever.
Sister Agnes Marie died peacefully on March 11, 2026, in the Mother of Good Counsel Convent in Chicago, Illinois. Community members, family, and friends attended her wake and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Reverend Anthony Cirignani, OFM, in the Mother of Good Counsel Chapel in Chicago, Illinois, on March 16, 2026. Her body was taken for interment to St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois.
