Sr. Florence Marie, Florence Owczarzak, completed her life’s journey of 94 years on Aug. 2 at St. Joseph Convent in Livonia. Sister was 76 years in religious life.

Born in Bay City on Nov. 6, 1922, Florence was the oldest of five children of Frank and Martha (Drzewicki). She was admitted to the postulancy of the Felician Sisters on June 24, 1941, and received the name Sr. Mary Maximina, but later changed it to Sister Florence Marie. First profession of vows was Aug. 13, 1943, and final profession in 1949. She earned degrees from Mary Manse College in Toledo and Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.

Sr. Owczarzak taught primary and intermediate grades for 41 years and was principal for 28 years. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, she was assigned to Resurrection, St. Valentine and St. Stephen in Detroit; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Helen, Wyandotte; St. Florian and Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck; and St. Leonard, Warren. She also taught at St. Hyacinth and St. Stanislaus, Bay City; St.  Stanislaus and St. Joseph, Jackson; Holy Rosary, Cedar; St. Mary, Alpena; St. Michael, Port Austin; St. Therese, Wayland; St. Valentine, Kawkawlin; St. Adalbert in Toledo, and in South Bend, Ind.

She also ministered as a patient visitor and worked with orphan boys in Jackson, as well as in the Psycho-Educational Center at Madonna University. Sr. Owczarzak was named Michigan’s first recipient of an American Legion Auxiliary scholarship at Valley Forge, Pa., which inspires teachers to teach “Americanism” to children in schools.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 5 at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters’ Central Convent in Livonia. Burial is in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.