Sister M. Lucy Cizik, OSF

february 23, 1911 - march 3, 2004

“Let us give praise and thanksgiving for this woman great and noble.”

Indeed, the life of Sister M. Lucy Cizik is the story of a great and noble woman who gave her life to God and never once looked back. As she lay dying, she prayed constantly to her “sweet Jesus” for courage and help. This was her way in all events of life.

Margaret was born on February 23, 1911, to Michael and Mary (Joncisin) Cizik in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., the fifth of seven children. She was baptized three days later in Sacred Heart Church in Wilkes-Barre. At age 6, Margaret was enrolled in Sacred Heart Parish School and taught by the Sisters of SS. Cyril & Methodious. Margaret was confirmed in 1926, taking the name of Theresa after the Little Flower of Jesu,s who was canonized that same year and to whom she had devotion.

She attended Saint Mary’s High School but, because of the expense, she had to transfer to Coughlin High School. After a year, she went to work in the lace mill in Wilkes-Barre and remained there until she entered the postulancy at Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh, Pa., in March 1930.

On September 16, 1930, Margaret entered the novitiate and received the name of Sister Lucy. One year later, on the Feast of the Stigmatization of Saint Francis, Sister pronounced her first vows. Her final vows followed on the same date in 1937, her Final Profession. “How happy I was knowing I belonged to Jesus alone,” she wrote.

After a year of teaching at St. Clement School in Tarentum, Pa., Sister Lucy entered St. John’s School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, receiving her RN degree in August 1936. After four years in nursing, Sister Lucy returned to teaching the primary grades and First Communion Class and serving as sacristan in the parish church. After some years, she was assigned to Mount Assisi as prefect of the resident students, work she enjoyed so much that she was called “Mamma Lucy” by the children. During these years, she also taught the third and fourth grades and health to the high school students at Mount Assisi Academy.

In 1956, Sister received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Villa Maria College in Erie, Pa., and, in 1968, a master’s degree in education from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Sister went on to teach in parish schools in the Pennsylvania towns of Pittsburgh, Farrell, Shenandoah, Hellertown, Bethlehem, West Lawn and Palmerton, as well as in Westfield and Webster, Mass.

Sister also served her community as novice directress and local minister in many of the convents where she resided and as a delegate to both the Provincial and General Chapters. She wanted to be of service for as long as she was able and did so by tutoring small groups and doing office work. In her later years, she resided at SS. Cyril & Methodious Convent in Bethlehem, Pa., where she helped with development mailings.

In 2001, Sister Lucy retired to Villa Clare in the Motherhouse in Bethlehem, where she joined the group in praying together each day for all of her Sisters. Sister Lucy suffered two severe bouts of cancer but always rebounded until, in March 2004, she went home to her “Sweet Jesus,” whom she loved so dearly.

Sister Lucy is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa.