Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister M. Lea Wadzinski CSC

Feb. 9, 1916 - Dec. 28, 2000

South Bend Tribune 12/30/2000

Sister M. Lea (Anna Cecilia Wadzinski) CSC, died in Saint Mary's Convent, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind. on Thursday, Dec. 28. Sister M. Lea was born to Henry Wadzinski and Josephine Wieczorek Wadzinski, on Feb. 9, 1916, in South Bend, Ind. She is survived by her sister, Lottie Golba, and her brothers, Felix Wadzinski and Stanley Wadzinski, all of South Bend. She is also survived by nieces and nephews. Sister was baptized and received her elementary and secondary education at St. Hedwig Parish in South Bend.

Sister M. Lea entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1936, and made her first vows in 1938. Sister trained in elementary education and taught first grade in the Midwest from 1938 to 1987. She dearly loved teaching and taught in Saint Patrick's School, East Chicago, Ind., Holy Redeemer School, Evergreen Park, Ill., Saint Vincent's School, Elkhart, Ind., Saint Theodore's School, Chicago, Ill., and Notre Dame School, Michigan City, Ind. She taught at Christ the King School, South Bend from 1971-1987, followed by tutoring until 1991. Sister retired to Lourdes Convent, Saint Mary's, where she was assistant superior of Lourdes Convent and spent time in community service. Illness made her move to Saint Mary's Convent where she participated in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.

Reception of the body and wake service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind., followed by visitation until 6 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, followed by interment at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.