OBITUARY: Sister Leonard Jeanne Fetzko, former GI, member of Sisters Servants (04/09/00)

OBITUARY: Sister Leonard Jeanne Fetzko, former GI, member of Sisters Servants

SLOATSBURG, N.Y. - Amidst plans that were being made by the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate to celebrate the golden jubilee of her religious life, Sister Leonard Jeanne Fetzko died on March 4, after a lengthy illness.

Sister Leonard was born on June 4, 1913, in Yonkers, N.Y., the 10th of 11 children born to Simeon and Rosalie (Fedorko) Fetzko. She was baptized in St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yonkers on June 14, 1913.

The Great Depression ended her hopes of attending college, so she joined the United States Army and served both here and abroad in Egypt and Africa for three years. Receiving an honorable discharge after World War II ended, the GI Bill for veterans permitted Jeanne Fetzko to graduate as a certified dietitian.

After a year's internship at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, N.Y., Ms. Fetzko became the head dietitian at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y. It was during this time that she became acquainted with the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate and entered the novitiate in Ancaster, Ontario, in August 1950.

Completing her novitiate training and taking the religious name Sister Leonard, she returned to the United States, where her ministry continued until her death.

Sister Leonard served the community as a dietitian in Chestnut Hill and Lansdale, Pa., Willington, Alberta, and at St. Joseph's Home in Sloatsburg, N.Y. She served also as teacher and principal in parishes in Rochester and Buffalo and St. Mary's Villa Academy in Sloatsburg, N.Y., as well as in Detroit, Passaic and Elizabeth, N.J., Cleveland and Shamokin, Pa.

She also served as the assistant directress of novices, provincial councilor and vice-provincial. Sister Leonard died at Nyack Manor Nursing Home in Valley Cottage, N.Y., where she was a resident since January 1998, having dedicated her life to God and his Holy Mother for 50 years.

Sister Leonard's body was returned to St. Mary's Villa on March 6. The parastas was served on March 7 by Msgr. Leon Mosko, and the Revs. Bohdan Danylo, Ivan Kasczak, Walter Wysochansky, Peter Ohirko and Ivan Tykhovick, and the Rev. Deacon Cyril. The responses were sung by the sisters, lay associates, family and friends.

Following the parastas, the Revs. Kasczak and Tykhovick, representing chaplains in two branches of military service, offered a prayer service to honor one who had served her country well.

On March 8 Bishop Basil H. Losten offered the divine liturgy with a panakhyda at the cemetery assisted by the Rev. Deacon Cyril.

Three military representatives from West Point and a bugler participated in the ceremony following the panakhyda by folding the flag that had covered the coffin, saluting and presenting the flag to Sister Michele Yakymovitch, provincial superior, as taps were played in the background.

Sister Leonard is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

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