Sister Felicitas Konecny, OSF

September 14, 1915 - December 28, 2002

Sister Felicitas (Anna Amelia) Konecny, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, died on December 28, 2002, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was 87 and in her 71st year of religious life.

Anna Amelia was born to Nicholas and Maria (Pollak) Konecny on September 14, 1915, on Pittsburgh’s North Side. She entered the community in 1930 and received the name Sister Felicitas, professing first vows in 1931 and final vows in 1937.

Sister Felicitas held a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and a master’s degree in sacred studies from St. Bonaventure University in New York. She also studied at the Franciscan Institute of Theology in Joliet, Ill., and received a National Science Foundation grant for math studies at Seton Hill College, Georgetown University and Holy Cross College.

Over 60 years in active ministry, Sister taught at Catholic grade schools in the Pennsylvania towns of Erie, Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks, Canonsburg, Ellsworth, Charleroi, Bethlehem, Tarentum, Ambridge, Perryopolis and Clymer. She also served in Clifton and Boonton, N.J.; in Clarksburg, W.Va., and taught math at Central Catholic High School in Allentown, Pa. In addition to teaching at our former St. Francis Academy in San Antonio, Texas, Sister Felicitas also taught math, English, Latin and Spanish at the former Mount Assisi Academy in Pittsburgh.

“She was always so patient and calm with (her high school students) and would spend hours listening to their problems, fears and concerns,” remembers one Sister. “She was a symbol of hope to them when they were going through their troubled teenage years.”

In addition to her teaching ministry, Sister served our community as assistant prefect of postulants; assistant novice mistress; as a delegate to our Provincial Chapters in 1969, 1970 and 1986; and as a delegate to the 1969 General Chapter.

Remembered for her lovely smile and gentle ways, Sister Felicitas was known to live with a great spirit of gratitude, expressing it so well in loving gestures and always with a promise of prayer. She had a great interest in modern youth and enjoyed learning about other people, their cultures and their viewpoints.

“What joy Sister showed whenever any Sister came to visit her,” another Sister recalls. “She was thrilled beyond words to see her and was anxious to hear all the news of her ministry.” Sister ended those visits with a beautiful, heartwarming prayer, accompanied by a hug and kiss. May she rest in peace.

Sister Felicitas is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.