Sister Mary Ethel Niestepski died peacefully on Friday, January 28th at 11 PM in the Colette Hilbert Care Community, Hamburg, NY in the 97th year of life and the 78th year of religious life.
Sophie Niestepski was born on November 20, 1913 in Chelsea to the late Boleslaw and Marcyanna (Postek) Niestepski. On September 8, 1927, Sister Ethel entered the aspirancy of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. On January 6, 1931 she became a postulant and on July 16, 1935 Sister Ethel professed her final vows.
Sister Ethel received a Bachelor's degree in Education from the Catholic Sisters College of CUA in Washington, DC. For fifty-eight years, Sister Ethel ministered in the field of education Immaculata Academy, Hamburg, NY, St. Michael, bridgeport, CT, Corpus Christi, Buffalo, NY, St. Hedwig, Detroit, MI, Saints Peter and Paul, Three Rivers, MA, St. Michael, Lynn, St. Stanislaus, Chicopee, MA and Holy Trinity in Lawrence. Sister also was principal of Our Lady Queen of Angels in Detroit from 1961-1967. In 1994, Sister Ethel retired to the Motherhouse where she held various convent ministries and in 1998 she joined the sisters in the Colette Hilbert Care Community.
Sister Ethel will be remembered for her love of classical music, her knowledge of both Polish culture and of the life of the foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Mother Colette Hilbert. Sister enjoyed planting flowers and propagated her favorite plant, the cactus. Sister Ethel was a gentle soul, a good community person who always had a song in her heart, a kind word or a prayer on her lips and longed to be reunited with her Spouse, Jesus Christ.
Sister Ethel was the sister of the late Beatrice E. Szarkowski, Lucy Maleszewski, Valerin "Ted" Niestepski and Louis "Polo" Niestepski. She is lovingly survived by her sisters-in-law, Gladys Niestepski of Peabody and Adele Niestepski of Stoneham as well as countless nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral from the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, CHELSEA on Friday, February 4th at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Stanislaus Church, 163 Chestnut Street, Chelsea at 10:30 AM. Visiting Hours in the Smith Funeral Home on Thursday from 5-8 PM. Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In accordance with Sister Ethel's wishes, in liue of flowers, donations may be made to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, c/o Sister Lynne Anne, 5229 S. Park Ave., Hamburg, NY 14075.