Sister Maria Onuffer, SSJ, 91, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on April 12, 2025, in the 74th year of her religious life. She was born in Lewis Run, PA, on September 17, 1933, to the late John and Anna (Hvizdak) Onuffer. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Lewis Run, PA, on August 31, 1951, and professed her final vows in 1957. She credited the inspiration and dedication of the Sisters who ministered at St. Bernard High School for motivating her to heed the call of the Spirit, often despite much resistance. She was further inspired by witnessing the teaching ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
She attended Lewis Run Elementary School and graduated from St. Bernard High School in Bradford, PA, with the highest commercial honors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Villa Maria College, Erie, and received her professional state licensure in nursing home administration from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sister Maria’s ministries in the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph began with teaching in several Diocesan schools, including Villa Maria Elementary, Sacred Heart, and Blessed Sacrament schools in Erie. She then worked in social services and health care with the geriatric population at Saint Mary’s Home of Erie for nearly 30 years. During her ministry career at Saint Mary’s, she served as a secretary, payroll clerk, business manager, assistant administrator, and administrator. She was presented with the Saint Mary’s Medaille D’or Award in 2007.
After retiring from Saint Mary’s Home, she spent a year on a sabbatical in Saint Louis, MO, completing various certificate programs and workshops. She joined the staff of Saint Vincent Health Center, working in Outpatient Behavioral Services and at the Saint Vincent Women’s Diagnostic Center for 25 years. Before retiring in 2013, she was a receptionist at the Hardner Building on the Saint Vincent campus.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers: John, Steve, Joseph, Michael, Andrew, and Paul. She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Anna, Helen, and Sr. Joachim, also a Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania. An ever-faithful sister-in-law, Irene Onuffer of Bradford, PA, and several nieces and nephews survive her. She is also survived by her loving religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Friends are invited to visit the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, beginning with a prayer service at 1:00 p.m., followed by calling hours until 3:50 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 4:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/user/SSJErie/live. The interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the SSJ Mission & Ministries Foundation, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506-1249. The Kloecker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
