Obituaries
Sister Mary Julia Witkowski, 91, a Felician Sister for 74 years, died in the Felician Sisters Health and Wellness Center, Buffalo, NY, on January 24, 2009. The former Mary Witkowski was born on July 11, 1917, in North Tonawanda, NY. She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, NY, on June 29, 1934, and professed perpetual vows on August 12, 1942. She was a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in North Tonawanda, NY. She graduated from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, Buffalo, NY, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Mount St. Joseph Teachers College, now known as Medaille College, Buffalo, NY, and a Master of Arts in Sacred Sciences from St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY. She also studied at State University of New York at Buffalo and at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Sister Mary Julia began her ministry as a Catholic elementary school teacher at St. John Gualbert School, Cheektowaga, NY. She then taught at Queen of All Saints School, Lackawanna, NY, and returned to St. John Gualbert School. She spent nine years teaching at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children in Cheektowaga, NY. She soon moved on to teach English at Villa Maria Academy, Buffalo, NY, at Bishop Colton High School, Buffalo, NY, and at Sacred Heart High School in Syracuse, NY, where she taught Social Studies in addition to English.From 1959 to 1964, Sister Mary Julia responded to God’s call to serve as a missionary in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She taught English at Mary Immaculate High School and returned to Brazil in 1972 to serve as the principal. She spent a total of 10 years in the Brazilian province. On her return, Sister Mary Julia ministered at the Holy Name of Mary High School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, as an English teacher and as assistant principal.In 1976, Sister Mary Julia was named director of the music department at Villa Maria College of Buffalo, and elected provincial councilor at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province, in Buffalo, NY, a position she held from1976 to 1982. In 1982, she was again elected to leadership in the province, this time as the provincial minister. She capably led the province until 1989. Six months after her term of office as provincial minister, Sister Mary Julia accepted the responsibility of serving as the Religious Education Coordinator and Parish Minister at Holy Spirit Convent, North Collins, NY. After nine years of active ministry at the parish, she resided at her home parish of Our Lady of Czestochowa and assisted in the convent. For several years she lived at St. Francis Residence Convent. Because of ill health, she became a patient at the Felician Sisters Health and Wellness Center on March 6, 2003. Sister Mary Julia is survived by her brother, Marion Witkowski, together with sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, the late Anthony and Frances (Blachud) Witkowski and her brothers, Stanley, Casimir, Henry and Edward Witkowski.A wake for Sister Mary Julia will be held at the Villa Maria Provincial House Convent on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 from 2-5 PM. An Evening Prayer Service will take place on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 5 PM in the St. Francis Residence Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 10 AM. Visit www.legacy.com/tonawanda-news for online guest register.
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Ryther - Gordon G. 87, entered eternal life on Monday, August 18, 2008. Born and
raised in Buffalo, NY, he was the son of C. Gordon and Gladys G. Ryther. After
graduating from Buffalo Technical High School, he earned his BS in Electrical
Engineering at the University of Michigan in 1942, then served the next three
years in the United States Army Air Corps in the South Pacific. After World War
II he left the Army as a Captain and returned to earn his MBA at the University
of Michigan, where he met and married Mary Emma Splane, before moving to
Buffalo, then Manhasset, NY to raise their family. Gordon was predeceased by his
wife, Mary. Survivors include his sister, Nancy E. Ryther of Buffalo NY;
daughter, Mary Beth and son-in-law, Allen Laing of West Oneonta NY, son, Richard
G. Ryther and daughter-in-law, Mary (Rogers) of Delmar NY, and daughter Barbara
S. Ryther of Belmont MA; grandchildren, Jeffrey S. Hiscox and Michael D. Hiscox
of Oneonta NY, and Caitlin A. Ryther, Andrew R. Ryther, Rachel I. Ryther and
Samuel P. Rogers of Delmar NY. Private services for the immediate family will be
held at a later date. Online guest book can be found at the
www.lhpfuneralhome.com, The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51
Dietz Street, Oneonta, NY.
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