Sister M. Demetria Jawor
of the Holy Face
(Hedwig Jawor)
September 23, 1911 - February 22, 2002

Sacred Heart Province
DesPlaines, Illinois

“He has made you to participate in his work and his love.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd)

Sister Demetria was born on September 23, 1911, the daughter of Catherine and John Jawor, who had immigrated to Chicago from Poland. As the eldest of six children, she always retained a close relationship with her family. She was baptized and given the name of Harriet at St. Ann Church in Chicago and later attended the parish elementary school.

Sister Demetria remembers her parents as being quite religious and very interested in all of “-” their children. She recalls praying the family rosary together in the evening and attending Mass together on Sunday, and going to Sunday Vespers. Before entering the convent, Sister Demetria worked in a bakery, where she said she gained experience and learned to be responsible. She recalled joyous and happy times while growing up, especially the parties that were usually supervised by her parents. Throughout her long life, Sister Demetria felt that her mother was with her, guiding her along the right path.

While attending grade school she became attracted to religious life and attributed this first, to her parents who gave her a strong religious upbringing and then to the Sisters who taught her, especially Sister Vincenta, her fourth grade teacher. It was Sister Vincenta who chose Harriet to help in the church sacristy and thus began her lifelong dedication as a sacristan in many of the parishes where she later ministered.

Harriet entered the congregation on August 15, 1928, shortly before her seventeenth birthday. As a postulant she was engaged in teaching, which was customary in those days when the community's ministries were growing and there was a great need for teachers. She later recalled these days as very happy ones. She was received into the novitiate on July 4, 1929, and was given the name of Sister Demetria. After a two-year novitiate, she made her first profession on July 16, 1931, and was immediately assigned to teach the second grade at St. Michael School in South Chicago. By the time she was transferred from St. Michael School in 1941 she was teaching the eighth grade, an area she remained in for many years.

About the time of her Golden Jubilee, Sister Demetria wrote the following in her “Life Portrait,” “In my fifty years in religious life, I have been privileged to minister where God’s grace and willled me. I have spent many years as a teacher trying to imbue God’s love as well as knowledge into the young minds that were entrusted to my care. I also ministered in the capacity of school administrator, trying again to imbue God’s love not only to the young, but to those who instruct the young, besides challenging them to always give their best in performing the art of teaching.”

Sister Demetria professed her perpetual vows on August 15, 1937, and chose the Holy Face as her mystery of vows. She always fostered a devotion to the face of Jesus and also to the Infant of Prague. Prayer was important to Sister Demetria even as a young girl and she herself said that it was the best expression of her whole religious life. She felt that she could do anything, solve any problem with the help of God. Besides our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, she fostered devotion to Our Lady, to St. Joseph and to our Blessed Foundress, Mary of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

For over fifty years Sister Demetira labored in the field of education as a teacher and then for another fifteen years as a tutor and librarian at St. Camillus School where she ended her active ministry. In the Chicago area, in addition to St. Michael School, she taught at St. Susanna in Harvey, Holy Trinity, St. Hedwig, Assumption BVM, St.Josaphat, and St. Ann, where she also served as principal and superior. She spent one year in Neenah, Wisconsin, the only time she was away from the Chicago School System. Along the way, Sister Demetria earned a degree from De Paul University.

In later years the students referred to Sister Demetria as “small but mighty.” She was known to be strict, but fair. She always made sure her students knew what was expected of them. She was very orderly in the manner in which she did things, and she expected her students to do the same with their assignments. If a student had a problem or needed someone to talk to, Sister Demetria was always willing to listen and help, when and where she could. As a principal she took an interest in each student and they knew it. Faculty members were appreciated and consulted.

One Sister recalled her experience with Sister Demetria as a pleasant one, as she was shown and taught her responsibilities. Sister Demetria always smiled and acted in a kindly manner, and hence this helpfulness and guidance was always appreciated, even many years later. As a local superior in this setting she was very devoted to her Sisters, challenging them, loving them and caring for them.

Another Sister remembered when Sister Demetria was engaged in teaching students who had recently arrived from Poland. Her rapport with students in general was one of understanding and compassion in helping them become successful despite the language barriers many of them faced.

At this time she also took on the role and responsibility of school librarian as an additional duty in the school. Here she had the ability to motivate students in selecting appealing books, enabling them to enjoy wholesome reading while she worked with teachers in accomplishing these goals. Sister Demetria was a real joy and a “peaceable” friend to all in the school.

Sister Demetria was kind and considerate and very likable. Anytime one saw her she would always express interest and concern. She had a strong sense of giving, a willingness to help anyone she could. In any spare time that she had, anywhere, Sister could be found busy with her crocheting materials, creating something beautiful for others.

As health problems became evident, Sister Demetria would always say, “I’ll be all right. I’m fine.” She never wanted to give in to any health or aging factors that might limit her ability to minister in the school or in the convent. She was the kind of person who was always thinking of new ways to serve in her ministry and in the local community. One Sister described her as a “dynamo.” This was probably due to the fact that even in her “golden years” when most senior citizens have retired, Sister Demetria was still full of energy and vitality. She seemed to have the heart and mind of a twenty-year old even as her body was aging. She was nearly ninety years old before she could be convinced it was time to retire to Nazarethville. Once settled in, she became very active as a resident and came to love and enjoy her brief retirement experience.

Sister Demetria was very devoted to “Nazareth.” Even in her retirement at Nazarethville she was involved in a variety of tasks always willing to make life easier for others. She would offer to assist the Sisters who needed help by reading to them and helping with their mail. She was a top- notch receptionist at the front desk, so very pleased that she was making a contribution. She was very generous with her time and energy often volunteering to “cover” for anyone who was absent. She liked to greet visitors with a ready smile and a friendly word.

Her time at Nazarethville was short-lived. On February 22, 2002, in mid-afternoon, Sister Demetria was discovered in her chair, having quietly slipped away during an afternoon siesta – no warnings, no struggle, just a quiet, peaceful departure from this life to the next. The God she had faithfully served for nearly seventy-five years had taken her to Himself forever.

Sister’s funeral Mass was celebrated on February 25^th by Nazarethville’s chaplain, Reverend Edmund Schreiber, Reverend Norman Czajka, pastor emeritus of St. Camillus Church, where Sister had last served, and Reverend Edward Maraczewski, whose home parish was also St. Ann. The altar servers came from St. Camillus School, where Sister Demetria had ministered on two different occasions, as teacher, as principal and superior, as tutor, as librarian and in all other capacities in between. Former students, teachers, and friends joined the Sisters and members of Sister Demetria’s family in bidding their last farewell to someone who had touched many lives in ways to be remembered for many years to come.

Digitized by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN, MA
School of Arts & Sciences
History Department
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
267-341-3279
srbrendan@holyfamily.edu
http://web3.holyfamily.edu/srbrendan
Last updated: October 2006