Mother Mildred Zaremba, OSF

May 25, 1906 - December 15, 1971

Rev. Mother Mildred (Mary) Zaremba, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, died on December 15, 1971, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was 65 and in her 48th year of religious life.

Mary was born to Charles and Rose (Dudic) Zaremba on May 25, 1906, in Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood. She grew up with four sisters and one brother in close proximity to the small nucleus of our community, which had settled nearby in 1913. Charles rendered many services for the Sisters during their early years in the United States, constructing for them such things as prie-dieux for their small chapel on Superior Avenue.

Mary completed her elementary studies at St. Gabriel grade school in June 1920, then worked for a year at Clark Candy Factory. In November 1921, at age 15, she entered our congregation. She entered the novitiate on September 18, 1922, and became known as Sister Mildred. She pronounced first vows in September 1923 and final vows in August 1932. 

From 1923 to 1929, Sister Mildred taught first grade in McKees Rocks, all while continuing her own studies, including Saturday art classes. She went on to teach in the Pennsylvania towns of Farrell and Erie, as well as in Jersey City, N.J. In 1933, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst College in Erie. From 1947 to 1951, she taught history and served as principal at our former Mount Assisi Academy in Pittsburgh.

She served our community in the 1940s and 1950s as assistant community school supervisor, directress of junior sisters, prefect of postulants, provincial secretary and novice mistress. Following the death of Mother Clotilda, Sister Mildred was appointed by Rev. Mother Domitilla Drab as provincial superior of the Pittsburgh Province in 1957. When it was announced later that year that the Pittsburgh Province had been officially divided into the Pittsburgh and Bethlehem provinces,  Mother Mildred remained provincial of the Pittsburgh Province.

During her seven years as provincial, many significant events occurred. The Pittsburgh Province prospered with new members, and several new missions were opened. Quite a number of improvements were made to the Motherhouse grounds and buildings, and the adjacent Little Flower House was renovated and became the residence for postulants and novices.

In 1960, Mother Mildred attended the Chapter of Elections in Rome. Soon after, Rev. Mother Domitilla and the General Council decided that a high school should be erected in San Antonio, Texas. Mother Mildred executed this decision, giving much of her time and talents to purchasing the property and establishing a simple but attractive, modern high school and convent. As St. Francis Academy opened, our homes in Clarksburg, W.Va.; Carmichaels, Pa.; Granger, Texas; and Cottage Grove, Ore., were closed.

During Mother Mildred’s term of office, the translation of The Life of Bishop Zaengerli was approved and distributed to the mission homes. The community’s Manual of Prayers was revised and reprinted, and the custom book was updated. In June 1963 and August 1963 the congregation celebrated its 75th Jubilee, and the Pittsburgh Province its 50th Jubilee.

In the later 1960s, the Motherhouse Convent and school became crowded due to an increased number of Sisters and students. Therefore, with the approval of Rev. Mother Domitilla, Mother Mildred set in motion plans for an adjoining building to include a new Chapel, dining hall, kitchen, laundry, parlors, bedrooms, community rooms for the Convent, and offices for the school. In later years, this annex would house Marian Hall Personal Care Home.

In August 1963, Mother Mildred was reappointed provincial superior.  The unexpected death of Rev. Mother Domitilla in July 1964 necessitated a Chapter of Elections be held in October. At this Chapter, Mother Mildred was elected superior general and remained in Rome. She visited the entire congregation during her first three years in office, including the first authorized visits to the Prague and Zilina Provinces since the beginning of World War II. She was joyfully received there by the Sisters, but her stay was curtailed by the government.

Mother Mildred decided to staff a home for the aged owned by the Archdiocese of Munich, Germany, and sent a few Sisters to Gauting for this purpose. She built a beautiful addition to the home for students in Merano, Italy, and immediately built a much needed Generalate for the congregation in Rome, while renovating and enlarging hospital facilities at Villa Betania.

Mother Mildred’s term of office coincided with part of Vatican Council II and its aftermath, which placed demands upon religious congregations to renew and update themselves. Herein, she guided the congregation through two General Chapters. The Special Chapter of Affairs held in Merano in 1969 did much to lay the groundwork for renewal and proceeded very smoothly with great care and preparation by Mother Mildred and her vicar, Sister Alberta. This Chapter was well attended by all the provinces, and a genuine spirit of mutual respect and love prevailed. 

In addition to her excellent leadership, Mother Mildred left behind an example of kindness, patience, humility and faithfulness. She will always be cherished and loved by those who knew her and remembered for her outstanding devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Mother Mildred is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.