Antonia Domeracki, SSJ

Sister Antonia Domeracki, SSJ, age 94, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on May 6, 2016. She was in the 76nd year of her religious life. Born in Village Little Hope, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 1922, the daughter of the late Anthony and Frances Wisniewski Domeracki, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Gregory Parish in North East, PA, on June 28, 1940, professed her final vows on August 15, 1948, and celebrated her golden jubilee (50 years) in 1990 and her diamond jubilee (60 years) in the year 2000.

Sister Antonia graduated from the Villa Maria Academy, Erie, PA, in 1949 and continued her education at the Villa Maria College, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.

She served in social service agencies and schools in the Erie Diocese. She taught in schools in Johnsonburg, Reynoldsville, Clearfield and Erie including St. Michael School, Holy Rosary School, and St. Paul School. Sister was housemother at both St. Joseph’s Home for Children and Harborcreek Training School. She also served as a nurse aide at St. Mary’s Home and as a Eucharistic minister at Pleasant Ridge Manor.

The following message of thanks was especially meaningful to Sister Antonia: “What words can adequately describe God’s gifts? They are so numerous that they demand our total gratitude and appreciation! There is one gift for which I am most grateful and I cannot overlook it: my vocation to religious life. In addition, there is my family, my religious family, Bishop Edward P. McManaman, and the priests and friends who have graciously encouraged me throughout these 76 years. God is so good, he asks for nothing in return but our love. That is the only payment he desires in return. What a great and wonderful virtue love is! Love is a blessing given by God to those who choose to follow him truthfully and faithfully in this world of ours in imitation of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for all of the lives I touched through my religious vocation. I wish to thank everyone whose efforts and generosity have contributed so much toward making my life so joyous.”

Memorials may be made to the Community Support Fund of the Sisters of St. Joseph.