Sister M. Antoinette Bosak, IHM
Sister M. Antoinette Bosak, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
She was born on October 28, 1922, in Clarence, PA. She was the daughter of the late Andrew and Tofilia Koblarchik Bosak. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1940, made temporary profession of her vows on May 10, 1943, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1946.
Sister Antoinette served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary of the Mt. Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1943 to 1951; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Altoona, PA, from 1951 to 1952; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1952 to 1957; Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Inwood, NY, from 1957 to 1959; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1959 to 1961; St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, DE, from 1961 to 1967; Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, in 1967 and 1985 to 1994; St. Charles Elementary School in Sugar Notch, PA, from 1967 to 1970; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD, from 1970 to 1975; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1975 to 1979; St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1979 to 1981; St. Patrick Elementary School in Oneida, NY, from 1981 to 1984; and St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1984 to 1985.
Sister also served as the director of the child care center at St. Mary of the Mt. Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1994 to 1998; and teaching assistant at Notre Dame Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, PA, from 1998 to 2013.
From 2013 until the time of her death, Sister Antoinette served as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Marywood College.
She is preceded in death by four sisters, Mary Chambers, Anna Danko, Helen Surovec, and Marjorie Krupa, and four brothers, Philip, Joseph, Thomas, and Andrew.
She is survived by two brothers, Frank of Snow Shoe, PA, and John of Glendale, AZ, and a sister, Theresa Smith of Conshohocken, PA, a first cousin, Sister Priscilla Koblarchik, IHM, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Tuesday, January 24, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Monday, January 23, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
Funeral: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/99288403
Vespers: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/99295137
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2017 issue
Reflection given by Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM Congregation President
Sister M. Antoinette Bosak, Funeral 1/24/17
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
Luke 1: 46
These words of the Magnificat from Luke’s gospel so aptly describe the earthly journey of Antoinette. Her entire life was one of seeking the Loving God in all people and in all creation. Today we celebrate her joyful reunion with the One who heard her call and welcomes her home into his loving embrace.
Antoinette walked among us with gentleness of spirit and graciousness of heart and touched countless hearts and lives, as we heard at yesterday’s wake service. Her enthusiasm and willingness to go out of her way to help others, her many kindnesses, her love for her students were all hallmarks of this wonderful woman’s life. Of course, we also know that Antoinette had a bit of a stubborn streak, too. She insisted on doing all her bulletin
boards by hand – nothing storebought was going on her walls! I lived with Antoinette many years ago, so I identified with Dottie’s story yesterday about how when she offered to help her lift a five gallon water container, Antoinette’s response was, “Why? Do you think I’m old?” She had a wonderful sense of humor and laugh that invited all into her presence. Of course, there was one subject that she was very serious about, and that was her Philadelphia sports teams. All who lived with her knew when the Phillies were playing and especially if they lost. As a Yankee fan, I knew when to leave the room! Above all else, though, Antoinette was a woman of prayer and deep spirituality. Her holy hours were the core of her day and her life and her love for others was rooted in her close relationship with her God.
Antoinette’s ministry experiences as a teacher in schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and Delaware spanned seventy years of dedicated service. She thoroughly enjoyed her interaction with the students and their families and her lessons went far beyond the classroom walls. To Antoinette, her students were a sacred trust, and her patience, kindness, encouragement, and affi rmation led them to learn reading, but, more importantly, to know God. Her smile and eyes that twinkled with delight brightened the day for students, faculty, and staff. Antoinette’s years as a teacher at Notre Dame Elementary School and later as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace witnessed to the incredible influence of a single life dedicated to the absolute reality of love of God and all creation. Whatever she did was done with sincerity, humility, kindness, and gratitude, and her goodness changed lives forever.
Antoinette’s deep faith and character were nurtured from birth by her family. As we give thanks today for her life, we remember her family members who now welcome her into God’s loving embrace, especially her parents, Tofilia and Andrew, her sisters, Mary, Anna, Helen, and Marjorie, and her brothers, Philip, Joseph, Thomas, and Andrew. We ask our God of all comfort to support Antoinette’s sister, Theresa, her brothers, Frank and John, her cousin, Sister Priscilla, and all her nieces, nephews, and cousins.
We give thanks for all those who have shared life and ministry with Antoinette, especially the sisters with whom she lived here at Our Lady of Peace and her many IHM friends, and Sisters Mary Alice and Dottie, and the faculty, staff, and students at Notre Dame Elementary School. Our prayers are also with the staff and administrators here at Our Lady of Peace and the staff from LIFE Geisinger, and all who knew and were blessed by Antoinette’s life.
We are consoled by the sure knowledge that Antoinette is once again back in her God’s embrace to enjoy the same love she so generously gave to others through her life. Our wishes and prayers for her today are beautifully expressed by these words of the writer and poet, John O’Donohue: “May there be a beautiful welcome for you in the home you are going to, because you’re not going to somewhere strange, but you are going back to the home that you never really left.” (John O’Donohue, The Horizon Is in the Well).
I now ask Theresa to place the scriptures on Antoinette’s casket, for she heard the Word of God; indeed, she staked her life upon it, and received life to the full ... the Word now beckons Antoinette home.
