Sister Valerie Zielinski, O.P., 92, passed away at Lourdes Nursing Home in Waterford Township, Michigan on Friday.
Clara was born on February 12, 1926 to Ignatius and Anna (nee: Jastrzemska) in Detroit, Michigan. On August 30, 1941 she joined the Racine Dominicans and at her reception in 1942 she was given the religious name Sister Valerie. She professed her first vows in 1944 and her final vows in 1950.
Sister Valerie spent many years in service to others in teaching and was the Co-director of the Leap-Learn Program. She began her ministry in 1943 at Holy Angels, Milwaukee. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were Holy Cross, Kaukauna; St. Luke, Plain; St. Rita, St. Rose and St. Edward, Racine; SS. Peter & Paul, Green Bay; Holy Name, Kimberly; St. Mary, Janesville; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monona; Sacred Heart, Eau Claire; and St. Ann, Somerset. She also served in Illinois and Michigan. She became a resident at Lourdes Nursing Home, Waterford Twp., Michigan in October 2017.
Sister Valerie is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates; her sisters Geneve Robb and Delores Mischik; nieces and nephews; and good friend Sister Roslyn Skaletski. She was predeceased by her parents; and her brothers Clement and Walter Zielinski.
Visitation will be in the Siena Center Chapel on Wednesday April 4, beginning at 9 a.m. with a Remembering Service at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32. Memorials to the Racine Dominican Mission Fund have been suggested.
The Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the staff who cared for Sister Valerie at Lourdes Nursing Home.