Obituary

Sister Helen Miriam Holowinski

Posted

NORTH PROVIDENCE —Franciscan Missionary of Mary Sister Helen Miriam Holowinski, 89, a member of the Queen of Peace Community, died October 16 at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Assisted Living Residence, Fruit Hill.

Born in New Haven, CT, she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Mary (Kotwas) Holowinski. She entered the Institute of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 18, 1937. Sister Holowinski pronounced her first vows March 19, 1940 and her final vows March 19, 1943.

She graduated in 1946 from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing, Brighton, Massachusetts as a registered nurse. She served in several hospitals operated by her religious community in the United States and Indonesia.

In 1983, because of health problems, Sister Holowinski returned to the United States. After 16 years in Indonesia, she said that she would always feel a closeness to this faraway mission and its people who were able to find joy in living, even in their poverty.

After returning to the United States, Sister Holowinski worked in spiritual renewal programs at Fruit Hill and in literacy programs in Georgia and Mississippi. She served the communities of Mississippi and Pawtucket as coordinator and the Queen of Peace community in the assisted living program in North Providence.

In addition to the Franciscan Community, Sister Holowinski is survived by a nephew, Dr. Randolfe Holly of Vestal, New York.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated October 19 in the Holy Family Chapel, Fruit Hill. Burial was in the Holy Family Cemetery.