of the Divine Savior
(Josephine Lozowski)
May 15, 1919 – March 4, 2003
Saint Joseph Province
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“Pray that our merciful Lord may be with you, or better, that he may lead you, that he may reign in you in the same way as he rules his kingdom. Pray that you may cooperate with him as a simple tool, ever fulfilling his will in all things.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, 1885).
Josephine was born on May 15, 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was baptized ten days later at Holy Family Church. The daughter of Paul and Alma Cukszynska Lozowski, she had five brothers: Robert, Theodore, Anthony, Stephen and Stanley, and three sisters: Caroline, Helen (Willis) and Marie (Michaels). When she was only nine months old, her father died.
Her education began in a public school kindergarten. She begged her mother to send her to Holy Family School where she completed the eighth grade. Perhaps following in the steps of her aunt, Sister Agnes Kosiba, then general councilor of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, she too felt drawn to the religious life. She entered the aspirancy of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and attended Mt. Nazareth Academy and the Knights of Columbus Normal School in preparation for her ministry.
In reminiscences of her early years of community life, she acknowledges difficulty in studying. “But I have a very good voice and like to sing on the choir in praise of God. I also like the Polish and English language and nature studies,” she related to her superiors.
Her 66 years in religious life began after a three-year aspirancy when Josephine entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth as a postulant on June 17, 1936 in Pittsburgh. Sister Judith made her first profession of vows in Albano, Italy on July 18, 1939 and pronounced her final vows on August 26, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Her years of ministry began with teaching at Immaculate Hea1i Parish School in Pittsburgh. In 1943 Sister performed office duties at Ohio Valley General Hospital. From 1945-1949 and from 1972-1982, Sister served at Mercy Hospital (now Bon Secours-Holy Family) in office work and later, as a medical records assistant. From 1949-1953 and again from 1967-1973 sister tended to the needs of the elderly at St. Leonard’s Home, Inc. in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. From 1952 through 1960, Sister cared for the toddlers in the nursery and in 1966 cared for the children at Holy Family Institute.
From 1960 through 1966, Sister served the Afro-American community at Zimmer Memorial Home in Mobile, Alabama. Assigned to supervision of laundry service and activities for the residents, Sister Judith brought a caring heart to those in the transition from segregation to a desegregated South. Sister Judith shared a story about an incident that occurred within days after the desegregation laws were initiated. Sister Judith planned an outing to take the teens and the younger children to the movies at a local theater. Previously, black persons had special showings of movies and could only attend at that time. Sister, however, decided to test the new law and take the group to an afternoon showing.
Sister met with much personal difficulty in providing this simple enjoyment to the youth. First the original drivers, when learning whom they would be transporting, refused to take the group to the theater. After she finally organized the transportation, she met with more difficulty at the theater. Spotting the inter-racial group, the attendant refused to give them tickets. Wise to the illegal maneuver, Sister Judith gathered the children aside and out of sight, and approached another attendant at the ticket booth. She purchased the tickets and together with the group entered the theater.
The teenagers in the group wanted to sit apart from the younger ones, so Sister Judith sat protectively with the younger ones. Because of the distance between them in the theater she was unable to stop the harassment of her teen group as white theater attendees threw popcorn at the Afro-American youth. Though it was not the most comfortable experience, Sister Judith comforted the older youth afterwards, assuring them of their dignity and equality as children of God, human beings and American citizens, despite the struggles that they experienced and would most probably continue to experience in this new American era.
Within community, Sister Judith was known for her sense of humor and her ability to bring joy and surprise to community gatherings. On the eve of Pentecost the local superior invited the sisters to add a touch of red to their attire for Pentecost Sunday. Dashing the local community’s expectation for a red ribbon or pin, Sister Judith arrived at dinner in a bright red housecoat atop her habit. “I’m representing the Holy Spirit!” she announced. And she did represent the God’s Spirit of surprise on many other occasions as well.
From 1982 to 2000 Sister served as parish visitor at St. Adalbert Parish in Dillonvale, Ohio. Her simple ways and genuine ability to bring a smile to any situation won her the hearts of many parishioners.
While still in Dillonvale, Sister Judith was diagnosed with a serious blood disorder. With weakened health, but a courageous spirit, Sister came to Holy Family Manor where she continued the treatment for her ailment which required repeated transfusions. She anguished over whether such medical treatment was a necessity or a luxury. She vacillated between the desire to live, even with the discomfort of this cumbersome treatment, and the desire to let the disease take its course without further medical intervention. On Saturday, March 1, 2003 she revealed her deepest longing to a visiting sister, “I wish Jesus would take me.” “He will, when your mansion is ready,” responded her friend.
On March 4, 2003 Jesus came quietly and unexpectedly to take her home. Her eternal dwelling place was ready. Sister Judith was waked at Holy Family Manor on March the 6 and was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery on March 7 after a funeral liturgy celebrated in Holy Family Manor by Fr. Joachim Studwell, OFM, and a family friend, Fr. Edward Trczeciakowski together with family, friends and her Sisters in community.
Digitized by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN
Instructor
School of Arts & Sciences
History Department
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-637-7700 x3279
srbrendan@holyfamily.edu
http://web3.holyfamily.edu/srbrendan
Last updated: February 2006