Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister M. Gloria Istenes Erdelyi F.D.C

Jan. 18, 1925 - May 31, 2007

South Bend Tribune 6/2/2007
MISHAWAKA - Margaret E. Istenes, 82 of Mishawaka, passed away at 7:10 a.m. in Fountainview Nursing home. She was born in South Bend, on January 18,1925, to the late John and Elizabeth (Erdelyi). Margaret entered the order of the Daughters of Divine Charity, headquartered in Staten Island, NY, and was given the name of Sister M. Gloria Istenes F.D.C. from 1945 to 1978, a span of 33 years.

As a nun she taught in parish schools in New Jersey, New York, California, Chicago, and Michigan. Most of her teaching years were spent on Staten Island, teaching art appreciation and special art classes to students at St. Joseph Hill Academy. During her convent days she produced about 400 pieces of artwork in oil, watercolors, and pastels with subject matters mainly in portraits, Madonnas, scenes, still life and liturgical subjects. Margaret's paintings adorn F.D.C. convents, chapels and homes of benefactors. In the Diocese of Detroit, she taught English at various High Schools, namely St. Clement High School, Vista Maria and Pontiac Catholic High School Art Education started under Sister Edna, CSC for Margaret from 1943 to 1945.

In 1954 she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Fordham University in New York. She was awarded a Famous Artist Certificate from Famous Artist Schools in Westport, CT, in 1966. In 1967, while stationed at Holy Trinity Midwest Province in Bloomfield Hills, MI, she earned an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Detroit. In 1974, Margaret celebrated her Silver Jubilee as a Daughter of Divine Charity and in 1978, with a dispensation from Rome, she retired from religious life and moved back to her hometown of South Bend. She bought a home while substitute teaching in local high schools and working from 1981 to 1990 as a secretary and managing editor for "The Mishawaka Enterprise". In 1990, at the age of 65, Margaret retired from the business world.

Surviving Margaret are her sister, Goldie Domonkos; and a brother, John (Dorothy) Istenes, both of South Bend; nieces and nephews, Judy (John) Bruce of Osceola, Andrew (Sandra) Domonkos of Granger, Margaret (Ken) Michaels of Niles, Ml, Steve (Denise) Domonkos of Mishawaka, Sue (Ron) Kopke of Ft. Wayne, IN, and Tom (Linda) Istenes of Niles, MI; and many great-nieces and nephews. Margaret was a member of St. Matthew's Cathedral and the Rosary Society.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2007, from 5 to 8 p.m. in St. Joseph Funeral Home, 1827 E. Ireland Rd. A Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday June 4, 2007, at 1 p.m. in St. Matthew's. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.