Aston, PA—Sister Adele Siwak, OSF, 88, (formerly Sister Francis Josephine) died in Assisi House on November 6. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 67 years. Sister Adele Josephine was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a member of St. Bernard Parish and a graduate of the Catholic High School of Baltimore. She entered the congregation in 1944 and professed her first vows in 1947. Sister Adele Siwak earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Villanova University and an M.A. in Education from Johns Hopkins University. She ministered primarily in education on both elementary and secondary levels.
Sister Adele served in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for 35 years. She taught at St. Stephen School, Bradshaw (1973-75, 1988-92); St. Elizabeth School (1975-79); Towson Catholic High School, Towson (1979-85); Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1985-87); and Shrine of the Little Flower (1993-96). She spent 1987-1988 in community ministry at St. Joseph Hospital Convent in Towson. In later years she volunteered at Sylvan Learning Center as a tutor from 1994-2007 and at Eastern Family Resource Center from 2007-2010.
Sister Adele ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 25 years. She taught at St. Ludwig School (1946-49), Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Media (1949-53), St. Benedict School (1955-61), St. Ignatius School in Yardley (1961-64), Resurrection School in Chester (1964-69) and Maria Goretti High School (1969). She worked in local house ministry in Queen of Peace Convent, Aston (2010-11). She became a resident of Assisi House in 2011 and served in prayer ministry until her death.
In addition, Sister Adele spent six years in the Diocese of Trenton where she taught at Holy Angels School (1953-54); St. Michael Orphanage in Hopewell and St. Raphael School in Whitehorse (1954-55); Corpus Christi School, Willingboro (1969-72); and St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft (1972-73).
All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Wednesday, November 12. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Adele is survived by a nephew, cousins, and by her Franciscan family, including Sr. Agnes Borkowski, one of her cousins. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
