May 3, 1942 — April 22, 2026
Sister Mary Felicia, Barbara Catherine Brodowski, was born to Thomas Brodowski and Agnes Szymanski in Wilmington, Delaware, on May 3, 1942. She attended Saint Hedwig Elementary School, which was staffed by Felician Sisters. Although she was attracted to the Felician Sisters, she was much more influenced by her aunt, Sister Mary Sanctine Szymanski, also a Felician Sister. She and her brother Thomas were raised in a very Catholic home.
Sister Felicia attended Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1960. She then entered the postulancy of the Felician Sisters in Lodi on July 2, 1960. She was invested in the Felician Franciscan habit on August 11, 1961, receiving the name of Sister Mary Felicia. On August 12, 1962, she made her first profession of vows, and on August 4, 1968, her final profession.
Sister attended Felician College in Lodi, New Jersey, and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1971. She continued her education at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, where she received a Master of Arts Degree in English.
Her ministry was quite extensive, beginning with teaching in elementary schools in New Jersey, primarily teaching the eighth grade. She then moved on to teaching English at the high school level. She was on the faculty of Saint Anthony High School in Jersey City, Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi, and Saint Joseph High School in Camden. As a faculty member at Immaculate Conception High School, she received the Outstanding Secondary Educator of America award.
From 1982 until 1988, she was the principal of Saint Anthony High School in Jersey City. She and her faculty took pride in the fact that 100% of the students received positive college acceptances. From 1989 to 2005, she was President of Saint Anthony High School. During those years, she raised $1 million annually in development.
During her years at Saint Anthony High School, she was acknowledged for her achievements by the Mayoral Citation for Educational Leadership in Academic and Athletic Excellence; the President’s Medallion from Felician College, where she also served on the Board of Trustees, in recognition of her service to Saint Anthony High School as well as Felician College; the Christopher Columbus Award for Outstanding Contributions to Civic and Community Affairs.
Sister Felicia responded to a very special ministry of caring for her mother, whose health was declining. She cared for her mother for almost two years before her death.
Sister Felicia transitioned from education to working with challenged adults in the 21 and Over Program, a part of the Felician School for Exceptional Children. She shared with others that she considered this ministry to God’s special adults the dearest to her heart.
Sister Felicia brought creativity, simplicity, and elegance to everything she did. She enjoyed life, the sun, the seashore, a good movie, and special times with family and friends, especially with her nephew Tommy, his wife Kristie, and their daughter Kora.
When God called her to Immaculate Conception Convent because of her declining health, she patiently gave a smile to everyone she met and often said she was fine. She maintained a peaceful demeanor even as her health was failing.
On April 22, very early in the morning, Sister Felicia entered God’s Kingdom, ready to join her heavenly Spouse, Jesus Christ. She was 83 years old and was a beloved member of the Felician Community for 64 years.
On April 23, a wake service and Evening Prayer for the Dead were held in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Lodi. On April 24, the Rev. Joseph Piekarski, a family friend from Wilmington, Delaware, celebrated the funeral Mass and gave the homily. Concelebrants of the funeral Mass were the Rev. Thomas H. Franks, OFM Cap, and the Rev. John P. O’Neill, I.V.D.
Interment took place in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lodi.
