May 7, 1929 — September 27, 2026
Sister Mary Alfonsa (Stanislawa) Kunicka, a religious for 73 years, entered eternal rest on September 27, 2026 (11:19 pm) at the McCall Centre for Continuing Care, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Sister had been recently diagnosed with pneumonia on July 17th, was placed on palliative care at the Trillium Hospital, Mississauga, and then was transferred to the McCall Centre, Etobicoke, on August 13th.
Stanislawa was born on May 7, 1929 in Tarnopol, Poland. In 1940, during World War II, she and three siblings were deported to Siberia, Russia. When an armistice was arranged with the Soviets to allow children to leave Russia in 1942, she and her brother, Alfonse, travelled through Persia to India with a group of refugee children and remained in the Jamnagar refugee camp for Polish children for one year. They then travelled to Valivade Kalhapur, India to another camp. From 1947-1949 they stayed in a refugee camp in Arusha, Africa where Sister Alfonsa completed her high school education. In 1949 this camp was liquidated and under the direction of Fr. Lucian Krolikowski, OFM, Sister Alfonsa travelled with a group of 162 children down through Italy and Germany and arrived in Montreal, Quebec on September 7th, 1949. Despite all the uprooting and turmoil in her young life, Sister Alfonsa always found the good in all circumstances and became a strong, courageous woman. She was always grateful for the generous and caring people who took care of the Polish refugees, especially Fr. Lucian. Until Father Lucian’s death in October 2019, Sister Alfonsa and her brother, Al, remained in touch with him.
Sister Alfonsa entered the community of the Felician Sisters on August 15, 1951 and professed her perpetual vows on September 12, 1959. Her novitiate was in Oshawa, Ontario, under the direction of Sister Mary Nepomucene Czuprynska.
Sister Alfonsa greatly enjoyed working with children in the daycare and young students in the parishes. For many years, she taught Polish school and catechetics to children preparing for the sacraments. As sacristan in the parishes, Sister Alfonsa worked diligently to beautify the altars and to prepare the church for major festive celebrations. Through her careful attention and devoted service, she helped ensure that the sacred spaces were prepared with dignity and beauty for each occasion.
At the request of Father Michael Smith, OMI, Sister Alfonsa initiated pastoral services at Copernicus Lodge. From 1984 to 2012, she worked tirelessly with residents in both the long-term care unit and the independent living area, helping them maintain their religious and cultural traditions.
She presented programmes commemorating Polish national holidays and helped develop formal performances for Polish patriotic events with religious underpinnings, including the May 3rd Constitution, Monte Cassino, the Miracle at the Wisla River, and Marian events.
Residents appreciated the rosary being recited in common and the singing at Mass. Sister Alfonsa loved her work as a pastoral care worker and felt privileged to share in the lives of the elderly, who enriched her spiritual life. In turn, Sister Alfonsa was greatly loved and respected by the seniors and staff at her second “home.”
Due to illness, Sister retired from Copernicus Lodge in 2012, and moved to Mississauga to minister at Holy Name of Mary Convent. She served as sacristan for a number of years, ensuring that the chapel was always decorated elegantly. Throughout the years she kept in touch with friends and co-workers from Copernicus Lodge. Sister had an endearing personality and always kept her family members, her beloved homeland of Poland, and her friends from Copernicus Lodge close to her heart. Phone calls, visits, letters and cards reflected the closeness she shared with them, as did the celebrations of her birthday.
Sister Alfonsa defied death several times. In 2012, she developed double pneumonia and required a ventilator, followed by several months in the hospital and at a rehabilitation centre. Despite the severity of her illness, she pulled through and gradually regained her strength. In 2016, after experiencing a serious heart failure episode, she received a pacemaker. She developed pneumonia several more times from 2024 – 2026, and each time her body was able to fight the infection. However, when she became weak and developed pneumonia again on July 16th, her body was no longer able to overcome the illness.
Sister gave a beautiful witness to accepting God’s will and appreciating even the smallest acts of service, as well as everyone who helped or visited her.
Sister Alfonsa is survived by her brother, Al (Jill) and many loved nieces and nephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents, Anastasia and Filip, and siblings, Jan, Aleksandra, Josefa and Antonia.
Visitation was held at Holy Name of Mary Convent in Mississauga from 3:00-9:00 pm on Friday, October 2nd. There was a wake service held at 7:00 pm with sharing of memories. Many associates and staff and friends from Copernicus Lodge came to pay their respects. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Convent Chapel on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:00 am with Father Wojciech Blach, OMI, serving as the main celebrant and Father Rudy Nowakowski, OMI, serving as homilist. Father Jan Wadolowski and Father Rudy were concelebrants for the Mass.
Sister Alfonsa is interred at the Felician Sisters’ burial plot at Assumption Cemetery in Mississauga, Ontario. May she rest in God’s eternal peace.
