Sr. Mary Verena Pastotnik, RSM, died Dec. 1 at McAuley Center in Farmington Hills. She was 97 and a Sister of Mercy for 82 years.

Born Josephine Pastotnik to farmers Dominic and Mary (Knec) Pastotnik on April 6, 1917, in Harietta, Mich., she was the third of 13 children.

Young Josephine entered the Sisters of Mercy community in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sept. 4, 1932, taking the name Sr. Mary Verena. She returned to Michigan in 1935, completed her high school studies at Mt. Mercy Academy in Grand Rapids and prepared for a 30-year teaching ministry. She made perpetual vows Aug. 16, 1938.

In 1970, she began developing a religious education program at St. Michael Parish, Pinconning. She later moved into pastoral ministry at St. Catherine Parish, Algonac, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish, New Haven. In 1988, she moved to Marine City to work in a home care program for seniors and the disabled.

In 2005, she entered McAuley Retirement Center, where she developed an outreach ministry sending recycled cards, booklets, medals and religious articles to members of St. Clare Parish, nursing homes and those in prison.

In later years, Sr. Pastotnik helped write religious hymns, some of which were recorded on cassettes.

Sr. Pastotnik is survived by four sisters, Albena Lipar of Waterford; Connie Williams of Grand Ledge; Bernadine Getzen of Cadillac; and Julie Boyle and Ada; a brother, John Pastotnik of Twin Lakes; many nieces, nephews, friends and the Sisters of Mercy.

Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 4 at McAuley Center’s Sacred Heart Chapel. Burial is in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.