Sister Mary Colette (Wanda) Michniewicz, 93, peacefully went home to her God on Wednesday, April 24th, at Holy Name of Mary Convent in Mississauga.

The former Wanda Michniewicz was born to Frank and Stanislawa on October 23, 1930 in Toronto, Ontario. She was the eldest of 8 siblings (3 brothers, 5 sisters). She often spoke of her great love for her parents and family, and thanked God for her parents’ faith that nurtured her faith and vocation.

Wanda attended St. Mary’s Elementary School where she was taught by the St. Joseph Sisters. She knew the Felicians from the daycare and their ministry in St. Stanislaus Parish. From an early age Wanda desired to be a sister. At the age of 13, she left home on Sept. 12, 1943, to enter the aspirancy of the Felician Sisters, and to attend Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo, New York, to complete her secondary education. She graduated from high school in 1947 and then entered the postulancy of the Felician Sisters at Villa Maria Convent, on July 4, 1947. She pronounced her first vows on August 13, 1949 and made her final vows on August 13, 1955.

During her 76 years of religious life, Sister Colette ministered in many apostolates; first as a nurse’s aide working with children at St. Rita’s Home in Buffalo, and then as a grade 3 teacher at St. John Kanty’s. She returned to Canada in 1952 to attend Toronto Teacher’s College where she received the Prince of Wales Award for the highest teaching mark. Sister Colette ministered as a teacher and principal in the elementary Catholic schools in the Welland, St. Catharines, Ajax, and Cooksville areas from 1953-1966.

While teaching full time Sister Colette took courses on the weekends at Mount St. Joseph College in Buffalo, N Y and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1966. She also took courses in Canada and received the certification needed to teach in a high school and attended the Ontario College of Art from 1958-1961 to receive her specialist certificate in art and then in Fine Arts Painting in 1971. Later on she learned how to spin thread and became a Master Weaver.

From 1966 – 1987, Sister Colette taught at Holy Name of Mary High School. At first she taught Geography, English, Religion and Art, and served as the director of the aspirants for three years. As the number of students increased, she was able to focus on only teaching Art. Being an extremely gifted artist and teacher, Sister Colette’s art program for students from gr. 9-13 in one classroom developed into an exceptional program. She used art to make students aware of God and His goodness. She herself loved God’s creation and shared that love with others and especially with her students. Sister taught them to really “see” the world around them and brought out the artist in each student. She encouraged them to use the talents that God gave them. Teaching students one-to-one, she was able to get to really know them and listen to their life stories. Throughout the years very many students were grateful for her support and stayed in contact with her.

Following her time of teaching, Sister served in many other roles in the Felician community. She was elected to the leadership team as councilor and provincial secretary in 1989, and in 1995, Sister Colette was elected as the provincial minister for Holy Name of Mary Province. Following her work in administration, Sister lived in Hamilton and volunteered at the Good Shepherd Centres, mainly to visit the dying at Emmanuel House Hospice in Hamilton and to meet regularly with a Faith-Sharing group.

During her years in active ministry, Sister Colette attended many meetings, conferences, workshops and she belonged to various Congregational committees. She not only desired to deepen her knowledge of the Church, Congregation, Franciscan Spirituality, Felician spirituality, life of Blessed Angela, but also wanted to share her learnings and spirituality with others. She gave “talks” about Blessed Angela to groups of sisters, parish groups and to the Felician associates, and incorporated into her letters to the sisters much of her spiritual learnings. Sister Colette was always open to and desired that “God’s will be done.” She was deeply spiritual and prayerful. While working in her assigned ministry, she continued to share her artistic skills, utilizing everything that she could and being conscious of recycling well before others did so, such as using threads from a dump yard for her weaving of St. Francis and St. Joseph or glass bottles for her stained glass windows.

She was often called upon and commissioned to design, create or paint for the Felician Congregation or to complete a special project for someone. Some of Sister Colette’s mandated and magnificent projects include: a maquette (small sculpture) of Jesus and the children for the design for the Dufferin-Peel Education Centre; cards with sketches of Franciscan sites in Assisi, of Mother Angela and of St. Francis; many intricate large and small weavings; a variety of beautiful paintings, (St. Felix, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Father Honorat, Our Lady of Mercy [in 1988 for Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Welland, which was unfortunately destroyed by a fire], Franciscan scenes, nature scenes).

Apart from her paintings, weavings, embroidery pieces, calligraphy projects, cards and pottery she completed, Sister Colette fulfilled her dream to transform the windows at the Felician Sisters’ high school chapel into a beautiful stained glass mosaic. Sister would research and pray extensively before she began any special art project. In 1981, for the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation, Sister Colette’s window became a reality. The design on the 5 panels, each approximately 20’ x 5’ depicts the Holy Spirit moving through evolving creation, inviting all to rest near peaceful waters. She created this from glass bottles that she broke up, worked into a design and kiln-fired each piece to then attach it to the existing windows. Sister incorporated a design of 12 lilies representing the 12 provinces (as of 1980) in the Congregation of the Felician Sisters.

Amazingly, she said one time, “I haven’t done much in my life, but what I have done is usually big and something I dreamed of”.

In 1993, Sister Colette was honoured to design and paint the banner of Blessed Angela Truszkowska for her beatification at St. Peter’s in Rome. This was a very challenging undertaking – the banner was 12.8 feet by 8.5 feet. Currently this magnificent painting adorns the chapel of Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Enfield, CT. She completed her last painting in 2014 for the 5th Anniversary of Our Lady of Hope Province. She researched and studied the story and vision of Our Lady of Hope and then began to paint her own “Madonna of Hope”. This painting was given to Sr. Christopher Moore for the provincial house in Beaver Falls.

Sister Colette believed and shared that it is only with God’s help can we do anything. She trusted and knew that only with God’s help was she ever able to complete her works of art. Sister will be remembered for her deep spirit of prayer and her love of the Congregation. As Blessed Angela did, Sister Colette radiated God’s love in generously serving others and was a woman full of joy and compassion to others.

Sister Colette is the loving sister of Mary, Stella, Elizabeth and Joseph, and beloved aunt of many nieces and nephews. Sister was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Stanislawa, as well as siblings Tom, Zygmunt, Hedwig and Theresa; brothers-in-law Henry, Zbigniew, David, Zenon, Bill, sisters-in-law Shirley, Stella, nieces Carol Rusak, Chrissy Porteus, and nephew David Laxton.

The Felician Sisters express their sincere gratitude to the Bayshore Agency nursing staff, Marilyn Chuli (LHIN Coordinator) and particularly their own employees who cared for Sister Colette with much compassion and dedication.

Friends may call at Holy Name of Mary Convent, 2165 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga from 3:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, May 2nd. During the wake, from 3 – 6:30 pm her friends will be able to visit and see the stained-glass windows she completed at the high school. Wake Service at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Convent Chapel on Friday, May 3rd at 11 am. There will be a livestream link below for those who are not able to attend the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Felician Sisters.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Turner & Porter “Neweduk” Chapel, Mississauga, Ontario.