Sr. Mary Ursula (Genevieve) Dzienis, CSSF, completed her life’s journey on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at 9:55 a.m. at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Livonia, Michigan. Sister was 100 years old and a member of the Felician Congregation for 82 years.
Genevieve had an unusual family tree. Her mother, Mary (Skurat), was first married to Casimir Dzienisz. They had one daughter, Josephine, born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, who later became a Felician known as Sister Mary Clarentine. When Josephine was born, she was already an orphan because her father, Casimir, had died eight months before her birth in October of 1918 during an influenza epidemic that devastated the country. About a year later, her mother married Anthony Dzienis, a brother of her first husband. The births of the other three children followed and included a daughter, Genevieve, who later became Sister Mary Ursula.
Born in Detroit on Feb. 1, 1924, Genevieve was baptized at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Detroit, on Feb. 10. Her siblings were step-sister Ann (Kurzatkowski), Josephine (SM Clarentine), Casimir, and Stephanie (Bucinski).
Following in the footsteps of her older sister, SM Clarentine, Genevieve felt called to religious life. However, getting permission from her parents to enter the Felician Congregation was not easily granted. After negotiating with them with no success, Genevieve spent three days in the attic praying and decided to leave with or without permission. On the day of the planned departure (still with no permission granted), the parish pastor intervened for her, gave her his suitcase for minimal belongings, and finally, with Mom and Dad’s blessing, departed for the convent.
Genevieve enrolled in the Felician Academy for high school in 1939 and after graduation, she was accepted as a postulant on June 23, 1942. Invested with the Felician habit on August 12, 1943, she received the name Sister Mary Ursula. First profession of vows were pronounced in 1944, and final profession in 1950.
Sister Ursula earned a Baccalaureate degree from Madonna University in 1954 and a master’s degree from the University of Detroit in 1961. For 30 years, sister traversed the states of Michigan and Ohio as an elementary teacher and taught at: Sacred Heart, St. Stanislaus, St. Valentine, Help of Christians, and St. Hilary, all in Detroit; St. Michael, Livonia; St. Mary, Alpena; Holy Spirit, Grand Rapids; St. Joseph, Manistee; St. Stanislaus, Bay City; St. Anne, Monroe; St. Joseph, Jackson; Our Lady of Refuge, Orchard Lake; and, St. Louis, Cleveland, Ohio.
In addition, Sister Ursula was a principal for another 34 years at the following schools: St. Michael, Livonia; St. Thecla, Mt. Clemens; Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck; St. Michael, Southfield; and St. Sabina, Dearborn Heights. This represented a total of 64 years in the ministry of education.
At age 82, Sister Ursula retired to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent and was an aide in the Finance Office for several more years.
Asked what she could reveal about herself, Sister Ursula stated that she was just a simple person doing what was required of her in the position assigned by her superiors. Sister strongly felt that she did the best of her ability wherever assigned because it was God’s hand directing and guiding her. He placed many opportunities of grace in her life, in particular, that of being able to reach many hearts and minds of children who were placed in her care.
The years rolled on and medical problems weakened Sister Mary Ursula. However, even at age 100, sister continued to take her meals in the dining room and participated in common prayer and all special activities throughout the day.
During the final month of her life, Sister Ursula was placed under the Angela Hospice home health care program. Then, on the morning of August 26, feast day of Our Lady of Częstochowa, as the sisters were all gathered in the chapel for morning Mass, Sister Mary Ursula slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus and Mary. Administrator Nancy Franke and Divina Rufino, LPN were at her side.
The closing hymn at the morning Mass was the hymn to Our Lady of Częstochowa in celebration of Mary’s feastday. Sister Mary Ursula often prayed to Mary under this title. Among the final arrangements for her funeral liturgy many years earlier, sister requested that this very same hymn to Our Lady of Częstochowa be sung.
Sister Ursula was always known for her words of gratitude, “God Reward You.” She said this to every nurse, every aide, or every sister for even the slightest help they showed to her throughout the day. Now she is being rewarded for her many years of loving service to God’s people.
Sister Mary Ursula is survived by many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.
On Friday, Aug. 30, following the wake and 7 p.m. recitation of the Rosary, sisters and family members will share memories of Sister Mary Ursula. On Saturday, Aug. 31, Morning Prayer begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Fr. Gary Michalik, chaplain of the sisters at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent, Livonia. Burial is in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.
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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