of the Mother of Perpetual Help
(Sophia Pokropski)
July 25, 1914 – October 31, 2007
Holy Family Province
United States of America
“October-the month of the rosary. It is the month of graces, of hope and trust in the Mother of God, for she will come to the aid of her daughters.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Diary, October 1, 1901.)
Sophia Pokropski was born on July 25, 1914, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The daughter of Charles and Ida Kuzniewski Pokropski, she had two brothers, Edward and Theodore. She was baptized five days later in the parish church of the Holy Trinity. Little is known of her early years within her family.
Sophia entered the Congregation from Holy Family Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 28, 1929. She entered the novitiate in Pittsburgh, receiving the name “Mary Malvina” on August 17, 1930. She made her first profession of vows there on August 18, 1932. Adding the mystery “of the Mother of Perpetual Help” to her religious name, she pronounced her final vows on August 18, 1938, also in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Sister Malvina received her R.N. in 1938 from the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. She dedicated herself to laboratory work and to nursing at both Ohio Valley and Mercy Hospital (now Altoona Regional Health System) in Altoona.
Sister Noemi Tereszkiewicz who had lived with Sister Malvina in the hospital community notes, “I remember Sister Malvina coming to the floor (of the Ohio Valley General Hospital in McKees Rocks) and starting a blood transfusion for one of the patients. She was very firm in alerting us to be attentive to any adverse reactions or problems and to contact her immediately if any problems surfaced. She herself would later make rounds to see that all was well. My impression was that she was ‘deliberate in her work’ and, with skilled hands, performed her tasks accurately. She had a ‘thoughtful mind’ caring to avoid errors by doing a procedure conscientiously without hurrying.”
In 1972 she left the hospital, but continued her nursing services at Holy Family Manor caring for the Sisters with an accepting gentleness. In 2001 Sister retired to the quiet life of Holy Family Manor where she was a gentle recipient of the care that she had tendered to others for so many years.
She was probably the living example of “cleanliness being next to Godliness” even being ultra clean about her clothing. As one witnessed her many hours in chapel, or her reflectively gliding on an outdoor rocker, there was no doubt that Sister Malvina was a prayerful woman. At the same time, this fervent woman would brighten up at knowing “the Pirates were playing.” She was especially responsive to the kindness of her last superior, Sister Janice Marie Blados, who often shared sporting events with her watching the televised game together with other sisters. Sister cherished her days at Ohio Valley and gladly welcomed reminiscing with Sister Janice Marie about their mutual friends and abundant hospital memories.
As her health declined, Sister was confined to a wheel chair, and was a quiet presence to all. On October 31st, as quietly as she had lived, so serenely she entered into eternal life.
With Sisters, staff, family and friends, a wake service was held in Holy Family Manor Chapel on November 2, 2007, at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, November 3, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. in Holy Family Manor Chapel, her funeral liturgy was celebrated by Reverend David Moczulski OFM. In his reflections, Fr. David remarked that “joining in the healing ministry of Jesus, Sister Malvina tended to the sick, suffering and those in pain with great gentleness and concern for their welfare. In her ‘white robes’ of nursing, Sr. Malvina felt she witnessed, not only to the nursing profession of her era, but also to her membership with all of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.” He noticed that during these years of retirement in Holy Family Manor, while Sister Malvina entered more fully into a world of silence, she would still acknowledge the presence of another with a glance, a nod or a simple smile. “Even in her silence,” he commented, “her simple acts of loving taught us about the accompanying outreach and joy emanating from a life of faithfulness to God.”
Together with the gathering of her Sisters in community, staff, family, friends and several CSFN associates, Sister M. Malvina, age 93, was laid to rest in Saint Joseph Cemetery on the provincialate grounds in the seventy-ninth year of her religious life.
Eternal rest grant to her!
Digitized by S. Brendan O’Brien, CSFN
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: December 2007