Sister Mary Ann Szydlowski

Sister Mary Ann Szydlowski died at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio, on December 10, 2024. The daughter of Joseph and Hedwig Szydlowski came to the convent in Sylvania in 1964 from St. Stanislaus Koska Parish in Wyandotte, Michigan. She had been taught by the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters, and was attracted to their gentle, loving, and holy spirit. In 1967 she made her first profession of vows in the religious congregation, and professed final vows in 1971.

For much of Sister Mary Ann's 57 years in religious life, her ministry revolved around health care. She worked as an LPN, and later as an RN, at hospitals in Ohio, Michigan, and Texas. In 1990 she left an active nursing career to pursue her education, and graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Lourdes College in 1992. She then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she studied Massage and Polarity Therapy at the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts. She was licensed by the Ohio Medical Board for Massage and Bodywork, and was a Registered Polarity Practitioner and Hypnotherapist at the Sophia Center in Sylvania, where she added her skills and knowledge to the wholistic mission of the Center. Sister Mary Ann enjoyed her ministry at the Center until she was no longer physically able to help her clients.

Sister Mary Ann had many other talents and shared them with the Sisters. Her Polish coffee cakes were prized by those who received them, and her soups were greatly appreciated by her guests. Anything needing mending or adjusting was done perfectly by this seamstress. Franciscan that she was, Sister Mary Ann had a special love for cats, and enjoyed caring for them.

Sister Mary Ann will be missed by the Sisters in her community, and by her family, friends, and the clients to whom she ministered for so many years.

Sister Mary Ann is survived by her brothers, Ralph (Ester) and Joseph; nephew, Christopher Szydlowski; and niece, Stephanie Wesley. She will be missed by her associate and dear friend, Pat Stimson.

The Welcome Service for Sister Mary Ann will be at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, in Sylvania. The Funeral liturgy will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in the Chapel. The funeral will be live-streamed at https://video.ibm.com/channel/RvdadQRjbGk.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio. Arrangements by the Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio.

www.wisniewskifuneral.net

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