Sr. Pamela Kobasic, IHM, 76, died Sunday, Aug. 20, at her home, the IHM Senior Living Community.
Pamela Suzanne Kobasic was welcomed to the loving family of Edward and Katherine (Lombardi) Kobasic of Lorain, Ohio, on April 24, 1947, as one of seven children. She attended St. Mary Elementary School and High School, Lorain. The school was staffed by IHM Monroe Sisters. After graduation in 1965, Pam entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and received the religious name, Sister Joseph David.
She quickly earned a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College and began teaching at Holy Cross, Marine City. She moved on to secondary education in 1973 at the community-sponsored Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, Illinois. By 1978, Sister Joseph David earned a master’s degree in teaching from Oakland University and moved to Immaculata High School (Detroit) as a teacher, administrator and principal.
The 1980s brought teaching tenures at Michigan high schools Lumen Christi, Jackson, Benedictine, Detroit, principal of Cabrini, Allen Park; and Lourdes, Chicago. Her years at St. Mary Catholic Central, Monroe, were shared in Campus Ministry and teaching.
Near the end of 1998, Sister Pam welcomed a time of renewal before being missioned as a teacher at Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, Illinois). She remained in Illinois through 2010, teaching at St. Rita of Cascia, Chicago, Seton Academy, South Holland, and a transition period while residing in Chicago. Of all the areas where she ministered, her favorite was teaching. She delighted in discovering the unique gifts and personalities of her students.
Transition brought her to Gary, Indiana, to take a position with the Office of Catholic Schools. Sister Pam returned to Michigan in 2011 to minister as a Monroe County Guardian through the Monroe County Probate Court.
A decline in health led Sister Pam to move from her personal residence in Monroe to receive ongoing care in the IHM Senior Living Community in 2016.
Sister Pam is survived by siblings David, Edward, Richard, Robert and Dena Kobasic, many nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her parents, brother Martin and sister Christine Backo.
Services were held at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, on Friday, Sept. 1. Burial of cremains will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Arrangements directed Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, Michigan 48162.
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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