Sister Immaculata Vavrek
September 28, 1921 - May 1, 2002
Sister M. Immaculata (Helen) Varek, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, died on May 1, 2002, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was 80 in her 62nd year of religious life.
The daughter of George and Rose (Kuruc) Vavrek, Helen was born on September 28, 1921, in McKees Rocks, Pa. She entered the community in 1939, professing first vows in 1940 and final vows in 1946. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1945 from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) in Pittsburgh, Pa., and held a master’s degree from the Seraphic Institute of Theology at the College of Saint Francis in Joliet, Ill. Sister also received a National Science Foundation grant for chemistry at Notre Dame University.
Sister Immaculata began her teaching career in 1940 at St. Gabriel’s on Pittsburgh’s North Side. She went on to teach physics, science and religion at Mount Assisi Academy in Pittsburgh from 1943 to 1978. After the academy closed, Sister Immaculata taught science at St. Benedict’s Academy in Pittsburgh and at St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem, Pa. Over the years, she also taught CCD on weekends and during the summer.
Sister Immaculata served as prefect of postulants and the junior professed during the 1950s and 1960s, was a delegate to our General Chapter in 1969, and a delegate to our Provincial Chapters in 1969, 1970 and 1976.
Fluent in spiritual issues and current events, she remained deeply interested throughout her life in learning, reading and listening to others. Sister enjoyed discussed her favorite topics and conducted herself with kindness, thoughtfulness and orderliness. She tried to be faithful in all things, especially religious matters. She is remembered for her great love of the Incarnational Christ, for teaching the importance of common sense, for her faithfulness to prayer, for her conscientiousness, for her loyalty to our community, and for her love of our Sisters and her respect for authority.
She, too, is remembered for her gentle ways, especially with the boarding girls. “She was my novice mistress and gently guided me through my initial blunders while getting used to religious life,” one Sister remembers. “When I went out to teach, she continued to remember me by sending cards with kind words of encouragement. Each summer she sought me out and asked about my ministry. I will remember her as a faithful follower of Francis, a bearer of the Gospel message and a dear friend and sister.”
“As a very young novice, I thought Sister was the most beautiful nun I ever saw. As I grew older and got to know her by working with her, teaching with her and sharing with her, I realized hers was more than an external beauty. She was a beautiful soul with a deep love and loyalty for God, our congregation, her family, her students,” another of our Sister wrote. “Her love and care for all creatures of the animal and insect world was, in a word, Franciscan. Her prayer life was simple and fervent, her concern for others all-embracing.”
During her wake service, the Sisters fittingly sang Gentle Woman. “Sister was always so joyful and had a beautiful smile to greet and welcome us,” another Sister recalls. “For the different seasons of the year, she would make ‘daisies’ for us, and show off the gorgeous afghans she was making for the festival. Sister was a true friend, and I will surely miss her!”
Sister Angela is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.