Sister Helen Swirczynski, Osb

Sister Helen Swirczynski, age 92, died at 12:10 a.m. on October 8, 2010 in Holy Angels Infirmary.

She was born on July 13, 1918, in Muenster, Texas to Joe & Margaret (Yosten) Swirczynski. She was the eighth child out of fifteen children (eleven boys and four girls). Surviving her are two sisters, Rita Miller (Austin, Texas), Catherine Erpelding (Colorado Springs, Colorado), and two brothers, Ed Swirczynski (Richland Hills, Texas) and George Swirczynski (Dallas, Texas). She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Dorothy Swirczynski (Muenster, Texas) and a great number of nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and nephews.

Sister Helen attended school in Muenster, Texas and entered Holy Angels at a very early age. After Profession, she was assigned to the culinary department in many different places, including St. John’s Seminary cooking for the priests and seminarians there. Other places were Blytheville, Pocahontas, Benedictine Manor in Hot Springs, and also in Muenster, Texas. From 1975 to 1994, she was in charge of the Convent Kitchen cooking for the many Sisters at Holy Angels. After fifty-four years of cooking, she retired and was living in the Infirmary for a number of years.

She had a great love for the outdoors, especially enjoying the birds that came to eat at her feeder outside her window. She also enjoyed all animals and loved to watch animals on video or TV.

Although confined to a wheelchair and on constant oxygen, Sister Helen always had a cheerful smile and pleasant greeting for all who came to visit her.

She made her Profession of Vows in 1935 and Final Vows in 1939. In 1960 she celebrated her Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee in 1985. On July 11, 2010, she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (75 years) with forty five relatives attending.

Visitation and Rosary will be held at Holy Angels Convent Monday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, October 12 at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Angels Convent Chapel with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be the Knights of Columbus of Blessed Sacrament Parish under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Retirement Fund at Holy Angels Convent, P.O. Box 130, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72403.