Sr. Mary Barbara Burzynski, CSSF, of Gaylord, Michigan, age 88, religious 68 years, entered eternal life on July 5, 2024, at Trinity Health Hospital Livonia, MI.
Barbara, the seventh of nine children, was born in the beautiful city of Gaylord, MI. Like the rest of the siblings, she was born at home: Angeline+, John+, Anthony+, Marie (Regina)+, Raymond+, Dolores, SM Barbara+, Florian, and Joan. Her parents, Frank and Victoria, were both from Pennsylvania.
Baptized and confirmed at St. Mary Church in Gaylord, the family lived on a farm. From kindergarten through 8th grade, the children trekked to a one-room schoolhouse 1½ miles away. On cold, snowy winter days, the children were invited to stop at the neighbors' halfway home to warm up and have hot chocolate. Sometimes, when the weather was bad, her brother would bring the horse and sled to pick them up.
The family raised cows, chickens, goats, pigs, horses and a dog. With a choice between milking the cows and washing dishes, milking the cows and goats worn out! All the children collected the eggs and planted corn, potatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables. In September, digging and crating potatoes, sorting cucumbers to take to town, and collecting hay for storage in the animal barn kept the whole family busy. Strawberries grew in abundance and became a common dessert with shortcake, and fresh cream from the cows also provided the churned butter. A pumpkin patch furnished not only “Jack-O-Lanterns” for Halloween but also pumpkin pie throughout the year.
With so many siblings and living in God’s country, recreation took many twists and turns. Playing cards or polka dancing after dishes was common. Baseball was played in the summer months on Sundays following Mass – after everyone changed clothes. But winter months provided the best recreation and games: sledding, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, ice-skating on a pond next to the house, building snowmen and forts – the children had endless fun and exercise.
Barbara attended St. Mary’s High School in Gaylord and worked in a factory and as a waitress at a ski lodge for two years after graduation. Taught by Dominican Sisters in high school, Barbara was drawn to religious life. Her cousin was a Felician sister and after reading about Blessed Mary Angela and the work of the Felician Sisters, Barbara was drawn to the Felician Congregation and entered on September 8, 1956. She received the name Sister Mary Aniceta, later changed to Sister Mary Barbara. Sister pronounced first vows in 1958 and final vows in 1964.
Sister Mary Barbara earned a Bachelor of Arts from Madonna University and a Master’s in Education at Wayne State University. Sister Barbara was a teacher for 49 years in the ministry of education! During her years of ministry, her journey took many paths that spanned the States of Michigan and Indiana. Sister taught at the following schools:
Holy Family, and St. Adalbert in South Bend, Indiana; St. Stephen, St. Andrew, and St. Valentine, Detroit; St. Genevieve, Livonia; St. Mary, Alpena; St. Stanislaus, Dorr; St. Stanislaus, Bay City; St. Valentine, Kawkawlin; Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck; and St. Michael, Livonia.
Teaching at Catholic schools was something special in Sister’s view. With 5 years with first graders, she then spent 44 years teaching the second grade. In addition to teaching good morals, good habits, and good values, one could bring God into any conversation. After hearing this for eight years in every classroom and every subject, students hopefully would have the basics of a good moral background. Giving her best every day was an important value for Sister Barbara. She was a great believer in praise and often acknowledged them when they would come up with the correct answer.
Retiring from active classroom teaching, Sister assisted with clerical work and tutored for another six years at St. Michael School, Livonia, for a total of 55 years in the ministry of education.
Sister Mary Barbara transferred to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in 2014, where she also assisted with clerical work until 2023. With a quiet, effective manner, coupled with commitment and dedication, she will be remembered as a spiritual person whose faith sustained her through many trials.
She bravely endured the cross of her sickness, and in the end, at Trinity Health Hospital, Livonia, on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 7:42 p.m., Sister Mary Barbara peacefully slipped into the arms of the Lord to return to the God whom she faithfully served on this earth.
Sister Mary Barbara is survived by her sisters, Dolores and Joan, and brother, Florian, and nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, following the wake and 7:00 p.m. Rosary, sisters and family members shared memories of Sister Mary Barbara. On Wednesday, July 10, the Morning Prayer Service began at 10:30 a.m. at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent, Livonia, Michigan. The Mass of Christian Burial followed and was celebrated at 11:00 a.m. by Very Reverend Canon Walter Ptak.
The body of Sister Mary Barbara was transferred and buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Gaylord, Michigan.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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