Sister Helen Miriam Holowinski, F.M.M.

North ProvidenceSr. Helen Miriam Holowinski, 89, Franciscan Missionary of Mary, Queen of Peace Community, died Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Assisted Living Residence, Fruit Hill, North Providence. Born in New Haven, CT, a daughter of the late Alexander and Mary (Kotwas) Holowinski, she entered the Institute of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, on Sept.18, 1937. She pronounced her first vows March 19, 1940 and her final vows March 19, 1943. She was missioned to East Boston, then to Roslyn and next to Millbrook. All three assignments involved the care of children and she rendered a variety of services for their care, as a teacher, and as a supervisor of the living and residential needs of the children. She graduated in 1946 from St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton as a Registered Nurse. She utilized her nursing skills at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island until 1951, caring for children suffering from Rheumatic fever. Following this she was missioned to Kennedy Memorial Hospital, now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children, and devoted herself to the care of the children there.In 1967, Helen was sent in mission to Rangkasbitung in the Islamic stronghold of Java in Indonesia. The Mission Hospital there was very much in need of repair and expansion. With help from funding agencies and benefactors, Helen was able to have it rebuilt. She was also instrumental in starting a School of Nursing. In 1978 Helen was missioned to Sumatra where she continued to share her nursing skills at a village clinic and at a Maternity Hospital.In 1983, because of health problems, Helen was obliged to return to the United States. After sixteen years in Indonesia, Helen stated that she would always feel closeness to this faraway mission and its people who were able to find joy in living even in their poverty.Back in the United States, Helen gave herself with zeal to the following ministries: - assisting in a program for spiritual renewal at Bethany, taking part in literacy programs in Georgia and Mississippi. She served the communities of Mississippi and Pawtucket as Coordinator and the Queen of Peace community in the Assisted Living Program in N. Providence. Here, as in every mission that she was in, Helen's spirit of joy and peace and her deep respect for each person, were gifts that brought hope and encouragement to all. She was equally at home with the rich and the poor, the learned and the uneducated, persons of different nationalities and different religious faiths.Beside her Franciscan Community, Sister Helen leaves a nephew, Dr. Randolfe Holly, a sister-in-law, Margaret Holly, both of Vestal, New York, and a cousin, June Patsky, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, at 11:00 am, in the Holy Family Chapel, 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence. Burial will be in the Holy Family Cemetery. Visiting hours Thursday 2 - 8 pm. Arrangements by Russell J. Boyle and Son Funeral Home. www.boyleandsonfuneralhome.com