Sr. Julie Slowik, IHM, 76, died March 30 in the IHM Health Care Center in Monroe.

Born July 30, 1940, in Pontiac, the first of four children of Stanley and Helen (Rachubka) Slowik, Julie entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe in 1958 and received the religious name Sr. Marie Benedict.

She earned her degree from Marygrove College and spent several years teaching at St. Gregory, Detroit, and SS. Peter and Paul, Ionia. She later earned a master’s degree from Catholic University of America.

Sr. Slowik also ministered as a community organizer and religious education director in Mexico, New Mexico and at Ste. Anne Parish in Detroit. Much of her ministries focused on poverty, justice issues, integrating the Gospel into daily life and growing faith-filled relationships in many urban and Hispanic communities.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 5 at the IHM Motherhouse in Monroe; burial was to follow in St. Mary Cemetery.