Sr. Mary Elaine (Beatrice) Machlik, CSSF, of Detroit, Michigan, age 96, religious 78 years, entered eternal life on October 13, 2018 at 12:05 p.m. in St. Joseph Convent, Livonia, Michigan.

Beatrice Machlik was born on March 14, 1922, the youngest of 4 children to Walter and Anna (Lahuski):  Walter+, Leonard+, Isabelle+ and Beatrice.  A native of Detroit, Beatrice was baptized and confirmed at St. Casimir Church, where she also attended the parish grade school from 1928 – 1936.  Following graduation from the eighth grade, Beatrice enrolled at the Seminary of the Felician Sisters for high school.  Accepted into the postulancy on June 24, 1940 she was invested a year later with the Felician habit and received the name, Sister Mary Elaine. First profession of vows was on August 13, 1942 and final profession on August 12, 1948.

Sister earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio in 1952 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1953.  On August 2, 1963, Sister completed a Master of Arts degree in Theology from St. Francis College in Joliet, Illinois.

For 22 years Sister Elaine was a primary grade teacher and taught in Michigan at:  St. Hyacinth, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, St. Michael, St. John Vianney, St. Stephen, and St. Hedwig; and in Ohio, St. Adalbert.  

For the next 24 years Sister Mary Elaine was appointed Director of Religious Education at St. Hilary, St. Mel, St. Andrew, St. Christine, St. Dunstan, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, and St. Stanislaus.  A three-year interim assignment moved Sister Elaine to the provincialate novitiate as Director of Postulants for 3 years (1975-1977).  

The surprised Congregational announcements in 1987 sent Sister Mary Elaine across the ocean to serve as Archivist for the Felician Sisters Congregation, in Rome, Italy for 3 years.  

Returning to the States, Sister was assigned to St. Stanislaus, Bay City as Pastoral Minister from 1991-1993, and then completed her years as Religious Education Coordinator at Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck, Michigan, 1994-1997.

Since 1997 – the past 21 years, Sister Elaine has served as the Archivist and Resource Historian in Livonia, MI.  During this time Sister was an active member of the Spiritual Life Committee, the Board of Consultants and the Formation Team.  She also served as a Director of Postulants, Ceremonies and Vocations, and as the Vicar to the Local Minister in the Provincial House.  

Following several hospitizations over the past few months, her health steadily declined.  On October 13, 2018 at 12:05 p.m., Sister Mary Elaine journeyed to her eternal reward and slipped peacefully into God’s eternal embrace.

Morning Praise began at 10:00 a.m. on October 16, 2018.  The Mass of Christian Burial was on October 16, 2018 at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent Chapel. Rev. James Scheick was the main celebrant. 

Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.