Sister Mary Agnes Czarnecki, 98, a Felician Sister for 79 years, died in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in Buffalo Aug. 28, 2018.

The former Josephine Czarnecki was born on March 11, 1920, in Buffalo. She was a member of St. Adalbert Parish. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters July 7, 1939, and professed perpetual vows Aug. 6, 1947. After graduating from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, she furthered her education at Mount St. Joseph Teachers (now Medaille) College in Buffalo where she earned a bachelor's of science degree in Education.

Sister Agnes began her ministry as a primary grade teacher at Queen of All Saints School in Lackawanna, a school with a multi-cultural mix of students representing 19 different nationalities. She also taught at Holy Apostles SS. Peter & Paul and St. Casimir Schools in Buffalo, and at Transfiguration School in Rome. Shortly after teaching at St. John Gualbert School in Cheektowaga, she volunteered to serve in the missions of Brazil beginning November 1954.

Her teaching career continued at Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she instructed children of diplomats, businessmen and businesswomen from China, Japan, France and England. She spent seven years at Mary Immaculate School and six years at St. Sebastian School. From 1967 to 1970, she was involved in ministry to the handicapped as she worked with the Association for Handicapped Children in Sao Paulo.  She spent a total of 16 years in Brazil.

Upon her return to the United States of America in 1970, Sister Agnes served as a child care aide at St. Rita's Home for Children in Getzville, for six years. In 1978, she returned to teaching at St. Catherine of Siena School, Binghamton.

Since 1980, Sister Agnes served as a staff nurse assistant at Villa Maria Infirmary. In 1999, she assisted on a part-time basis. She helped the sister patients in various ways but especially with their clothing and laundry. She took pride in preparing garbs for the sisters for special occasions. In April 2015, Sister Agnes became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center where she continued to assist the sisters in diverse ways. She was a very caring and responsible person throughout her life.

Sister Agnes was predeceased by her parents, Andrew and Michaeline (Kasprzyk) Czarnecki, her brothers, Thaddeus and Leon Budny and her sister, Loretta Helta.

A wake for Sister Agnes will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Central Convent on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, from 2 to 5 p.m. An Evening Prayer Service will take place on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 5 p.m. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel (Villa Maria).  A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. in the Convent Chapel. 

Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga.