Sr. Mary Presentine (Gertrude) Ugorowski, CSSF, of Detroit, Michigan, age 102, religious 83 years, entered eternal life October 14, 2024, in Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent, Livonia, Michigan.
Felix and Frances (Tomanek) devout and hard-working parents, settled in Detroit and raised a loving family of 10 children: triplets — Phil, Gertrude and Raymond — Edwin, Theresa (Komosinski), Richard, Norbert, Eugene, Mary Ann (Dabrowski), and John.
With so many siblings running around, Gertrude, one of the triplets, (the future SM Presentine) was like a master sergeant in charge of her brothers and sisters. Solicitous and loving, she cared for the younger brothers and sisters in many ways. Buggy rides were especially invigorating and provided ample time for exercise and a stroll through the neighborhood to show off the new arrivals.
Outdoor games offered most of the daily recreation. Vacations were often spent at a family cottage up North where swimming and boating and outdoor picnics filled the day. Shorter excursions at Belle Ile, River Rough Park, or Palmer Park, or parish picnics proved delightful outings.
The children attended Our Lady Help of Christians grade school but for high school, the girls were enrolled in Felician Academy (the Seminary of the Felician Sisters in Detroit) and the boys in St. Ladislaus or Notre Dame in Detroit.
Gertrude felt the gentle call of the Lord to religious life, and a few weeks after graduation on June 15, 1941, was accepted into the Felician Congregation on June 24, 1932. Invested with the Felician habit on August 12, 1942, she received the name, Sister Mary Presentine. First profession of vows was on August 13, 1943 and final profession on August 14, 1949.
Sister Presentine was assigned to St. Stanislaus School in Detroit where she taught Grades 3-4 from 1944 – 1946. Concurrent with teaching assignments, Sister earned a Bachelor of Arts from Madonna (College) University in 1951 and a Master of Arts from University of Detroit in 1958. Education continued at Fordham University, New York where Sister Presentine received a Guidance Counselor Certificate in 1971.
Teaching commercial subjects at the high school level included the following schools: St. Casimir, St. Andrew, St. Stanislaus, Patronage of St. Joseph, and Bishop Borgess all in Detroit; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; Holy Rosary, Saginaw; St. Stanislaus, Bay City; Holy Rosary, Isador; St. Florian, Hamtramck; Ladywood High School, Livonia; St. Sabina, Dearborn Heights; and St. Valentine, Redford.
Sister was also appointed as the principal in the following schools: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte, St. Florian, Hamtramck, St. Sabina, Dearborn Heights, and St. Joseph Home, Jackson.
Other ministry appointments included:
- Madonna University: teacher, counselor, Secretary to the Alumni Director, Library Assistant
- Ladywood High School: secretary to the Principal, Teacher, Counselor St. Mary Hospital, Livonia: Assistant Purchasing Director and Manager of Service Equipment
- St. Michael, Southfield: Principal
- Presentation Prayer Center: Jackson, MI
Traversing the State of Michigan, her ministry spanned a total of 67 years. This kind and gentle sister enriched many lives as an effective educator and assistant in many areas. In addition to class studies, Sister taught her students accuracy, responsibility and attentiveness. Although her teaching days ended retirement was not around the corner. Sister returned to Presentation Central Convent in Livonia in 2011 and performed assigned tasks ending with the ministry of prayer.
Onne of her favorite sites was the Fatima Grotto next to Presentation Central Covent. There, with her long-time friend SM Honoria Bartoszek, they daily recited the rosary and sang songs to the Blessed Mother.
Sister Presentine is remembered as a deeply spiritual, prayerful religious, kind and meticulous. She was thankful for any small favor rendered to her and acknowledged any act of kindness extended. As sisters kept vigil at her bedside and prayed the rosary, Sister Presentine’s life ebbed peacefully away. She left the earth and returned to the Lord whom she so faithfully served for 102 years, 83 in religious life.
Morning Prayer began at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Mass of Resurrection celebrated by Rev. Richard Bartoszak at 11:00 a.m. in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters’ Provincial House in Livonia, Michigan. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, 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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