Detroit — Cardinal Adam Maida recalled how Sr. Barbara Celeskey, SJ, loved a challenge and always sought to complete whatever she started, when he offered some remarks at the conclusion of her funeral May 9.

“She stayed on task and kept everyone else on task,” said the cardinal, whom Sr. Celeskey served as chancellor during most of his time as archbishop of Detroit.

Sr. Celeskey died May 9, at 78. She had lived for the past two years at Marywood Health Center in Livonia.

Her career in religious life included work as an educator and administrator, a co-founding role in her religious order, and leadership in both her religious community and on a diocesan level.

It was a career crowned by service, from 1990-92 as the first lay person, let alone the first woman, to be appointed chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

“Sr. Barbara was a brilliant woman, gifted with a great mind and a warm, loving heart. She had the ability to bring together creative solutions and energetic people to respond to the many challenges that were a part of the story of the Church over the last half-century,” said Msgr. John Zenz, whose time as moderator of the archdiocesan Curia included those years.

“She loved the Lord and the Church, and was generous with her many talents, especially in her concern for the education of youth and adults. She saw the beauty and continuing significance of religious life as she understood the vision of Vatican II — living our baptismal commitment to the utmost. We have lost a good friend,” he added.

It was their understanding of what Vatican II was calling for in the area of renewal of religious life that led Sr. Celeskey and 22 of her fellow Felician Sisters, plus one Oxford Dominican, to leave their congregations and form a new religious community, the Servants of Jesus, in 1973.

Their new congregation was granted official recognition in 1974 through the efforts of Cardinal John Dearden.

Cardinal Maida’s comments were echoed by Sr. Roberta Kolasa, SJ, president of the Servants of Jesus, now based in Saginaw, who called Sr. Celeskey “a strong leader, a visionary who got things done.”

She added that Sr. Celeskey was instrumental in writing the congregation’s constitution, and also served it for nine years as its president.

Sr. Celeskey truly loved the Church and gave her whole self to the Church,” she said.

Fellow Servant of Jesus Sr. Corinne Weiss called Sr. Celeskey “a warm and down-to-earth human being.”

Born April 4, 1933 in Detroit to Leonard and Josephine Celeskey, she grew up in St. Casimir Parish on the city’s west side.

She was a graduate of St. Catherine High School in Detroit, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Madonna College (now University) in Livonia. She went on to earn a master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and a master’s in theology from St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township, as well as doing further post-graduate studies in educational administration at the University of Michigan.

She entered the Felician Sisters June 24, 1951, and took final vows Aug. 15, 1960.

Her ministry in education included teaching at Catholic Central High School in Toledo, Ladywood High School in Livonia, and at Madonna College.

She was Ladywood’s principal for three years, and served at Madonna College as dean of students and as director of admissions.

Sr. Celeskey served as a pastoral associate at St. Edith Parish in Livonia and at Sacred Heart Parish on Grosse Ile.

Before her service as chancellor, her diocesan posts included delegate for religious, 1983-86, and director of education, from 1986-90. As chancellor, she was also Cardinal Maida’s representative for De Porres High School.

As part of the 2001 celebration of the tricentennial of the Catholic Church in Detroit, she was editor of the book, “Make Straight the Path — A 300-year Pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of Detroit.”

Sr. Celeskey is survived by a brother, Jerry; three sisters, Patricia (Norbert) Zapinski, Corrine Wiland andRoni (John) Nantais; and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 12 by Msgr. John Zenz at Our Lady of La Sallette Church, Berkley, with Cardinal Adam Maida offering the final blessing over the coffin. She was buried in St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights.