Thursday, March 11, 2010

A Tribute to a Franciscsn Nun & Friend - Sister Dorothy Sienko, OSF

Sister M. Dorothy SIENKO, OSF, 1921 - 2010 Sister M. Dorothy Sienko died on March 6, 2010, at Rosary Care Center where she lived for the past four years. The former Mary Sienko was born to Joseph and Anna (Kozlak) Sienko on July 10, 1921, in Minneapolis, MN. Inspired by her four cousins who had previously entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania, OH, she entered the convent on July 31, 1937 from St. Louis Parish in Foreston, MN. Sister Dorothy made her first vows as a Sylvania Franciscan on August 18, 1941 and her final vows on August 18, 1944. Sister Dorothy's ministry was a lifelong endeavor in nursing at various levels. She received her RN diploma at St. Francis Hospital in Hamtramck, MI; a BSN from Mary Manse, Toledo, OH; and an MSN from The Catholic University, Washington, DC, and an honorary Degree of Humanities, from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH.
Sister Dorothy's lifelong career in nursing was spent mostly in a supervisory role. She worked at hospitals sponsored by her Order in Texas, Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio. Before she came to Rosary Care Center in 2006, Sister Dorothy had spent 30 years as Director of Psychiatric Nursing at Trinity Health System (formerly St. John Medical Center) in Steubenville, OH. She had many friends at Trinity and at the Franciscan University of Steubenville with whom she shared her faith and her love of God. In a brief autobiography written by Sister Dorothy a few years before her death she wrote, "I would like to be remembered as an integrated woman-gifted with faith, love and encouragement to many over all my years of life. I pray for complete abandonment each day and accept even what God permits to happen to me and to know and follow His Divine Will. I leave you with these words: 'Let go and let God'; live in His Presence; enjoy your gift of life and celebrate it. God loves you very much." Sister Dorothy will be missed by her loving family and her Sisters in community and many brothers and sisters of the Community of God's Love, a Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community, at Steubenville, OH. She will be welcomed home at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at a Welcoming Ceremony in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at the Motherhouse of the Sylvania Franciscans. A liturgy celebrating her life will be held at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 11, 2010 in the Chapel. Donations and memorials may be sent to the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH. Arrangements made by Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Toledo, OH.

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