Sister Mary Helen Royack, a longtime educator, died on June 28, 2019, in the Colette Hilbert Care Community in the 87 year of life and the 66th year of religious life.

Agatha Regina Royack was born on Aug. 17, 1931, in Shamokin, Pa., to Benjamin and Helen (Romanowski) Royack. Sister became a postulant of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph on Aug. 30, 1951, and professed her final vows on July 23, 1956.

Sister Mary Helen received a bachelor's degree in Education from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pa.

For 38 years, Sister Mary Helen ministered in the field of education at Most Precious Blood, Angola; St. Michael, Bridgeport, Conn.; St. Stanislaus, Trenton, N.J.; St. Stephen, Shamokin, Pa.; St. Stanislaus, also in Shamokin; and Immaculata Academy, Hamburg, as librarian. During her tenure at St. Stephen's, Sister also served as the school's principal. In 1992, Sister Mary Helen returned to Immaculata Academy to minister in the alumnae office. Sister was also local minster of ICC's Health Center from 1999-2003. In February 2006, Sister Mary Helen joined the Sisters in the Colette Hilbert Care Community.

Sister Helen will be remembered as a self-controlled and serious person who was trusting and easy to get along with. She was concerned about the well-being of others as witnessed by her good social relations. Sister Helen was interested in arts and crafts, travel, reading, listening to music and spending time outside in nature when the weather allowed. She had a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sister Mary Helen is predeceased by her parents.

A funeral Mass be offered in the chapel of St. Francis Park Tuesday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m.  Burial will be at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph in memory of Sister Mary Helen.