Sr. Mary Joanette Kudla, CSSF, born in Detroit on Nov. 25, 1930, completed her life’s journey in St. Joseph Care Center on May 1. She was 83 and a religious sister for 63 years.

The former Stella Kudla, baptized Jan. 24, 1931, in Queen of Apostles Parish Church, Hamtramck, was the second child of Peter Kudla and Josephine (Parys): +Jane Kudla, +Joseph, Lottie Kobus, +Mitchell, +Edward, Leonard and Richard.

Stella attended Our Lady Queen of Apostles Grade School for eight years and St. Ladislaus and St. Stanislaus high schools. She entered the postulancy of the Felician Sisters in Livonia on Sept. 3, 1950, and at the investiture ceremony Aug. 15, 1951, Stella received the name Sr. Mary Joanette. First profession of vows was Aug. 16, 1952, and final profession Aug. 16, 1958.

Preparing for her apostolic ministry, Sr. Kudla received a bachelor’s degree at Madonna University. Her journey took many paths at this time that led to the following schools: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Albertus, St. John Cantius, Resurrection, St. Cunegunda/St. Barbara, and St. Stephen and Our Lady Help of Christians — all in Detroit. Other teaching assignments were at St. Mary’s, Bronson; St. Michael, Port Austin; St. Anthony, Toledo, Ohio; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; St. Stanislaus, Jackson; Holy Spirit, Grand Rapids; St. Thecla, Mt. Clemens; St. Edith and St. Michael, Livonia; St. Mel, Dearborn; St. Adalbert, South Bend, Ind.; St. Damian, Westland; and Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck.

Gifted with artistic talent, Sr. Kudla created many beautiful things and often shared these ideas with fellow teachers. She could make use of odds and ends and, as one of her nieces remarked, “she could take anything and make it beautiful.”

Sr. Kudla is survived by her brothers, Leonard (sister-in-law, Diane) and Richard; sister, Lottie Kobus (brother-in-law, the late Marian); sisters-in-law Pauline, Alfreda and Donna.

The Mass of Resurrection was May 5 in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters in Livonia, celebrated by Fr. George Rutkowski, former pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Detroit. Fr. Gary Michalik, pastor of St. Colette Parish, Livonia, concelebrated. Burial is in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Detroit.