John Semanik
John Semanik, 78, a hospice patient and lifelong member of Holy Ghost Byzantine Church in South Philadelphia who was the subject of a feature story in the Nov. 27, 2008 edition of The Catholic Standard & Times, died, Dec. 25, 2008, in Paoli. The CS&T story highlighted Semanik’s attendance at Mass Sunday, Nov. 16, at Holy Ghost Church as a special “gift of a day” granted by his hospice caretakers. Semanik’s funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 30 at Holy Ghost Byzantine Church. Interment was at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield. (Read the Nov. 27 story about Semanik by visiting The CS&T web site, cst-phl.com,then clicking the “search archives” section at the bottom center of the screen.)
Sister Anna Cox
Sister Anna Cox, S.B.S., formerly Sister Mary Frances Cabrini, died Nov. 16, 2008. She was 76. She entered the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament on Feb. 2, 1953, and professed her final vows on Aug. 4, 1960. She was one of five children. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Blessed Sacrament College and Villanova University. She began her ministry teaching elementary school at Holy Providence School and continued teaching in schools staffed by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the United States. Several years later, she initiated the Coretta King Day Care Center at St. Ignatius. This was in response to the need of poor working parents for a safe learning and play environment for their pre-school children. In 2004, she was assigned to St. Michael Hall until her death. She is predeceased by her parents and brother. A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 24 at the motherhouse Chapel. Interment followed at the motherhouse cemetery. She is survived by three sisters, Gladys, Sharon and Norma; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and the sisters of her congregation.
Sister Francis Flynn
Sister Francis Flynn, S.B.S., formerly Sister Mary Francis of Assisi, died Nov. 29, 2008. She was 91. She entered the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament on Aug. 27, 1935, and professed her final vows on Aug. 31, 1943. She began her ministry teaching elementary school at Holy Providence School and continued teaching elementary schools staffed by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the United States. In 1998, she was assigned to St. Michael Hall until her death. She is predeceased by her parents, brothers and sisters. A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 4 at the motherhouse chapel. Internment followed at the motherhouse cemetery. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and the sisters of her congregation.
Sister Elizabeth Dougherty
Sister Elizabeth Dougherty, S.H.C.J., formerly Mother Mary Edith, died Nov. 22, 2008, of heart failure at the Holy Child Center in Rosemont. She was 96. She graduated from Our Lady of Victory School and was in the first freshman class at West Catholic High School for Girls. She entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1932 and professed her final vows in 1940. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in library science, both from Villanova University. She taught first grade at St. Edward and Holy Spirit parish schools. Shortly thereafter, she taught at Holy Child Academy and served as librarian. From 1974 to 1977, she was the librarian at J.W. Hallahan High School. In 1989, she volunteered at Rosemont College until her retirement in 1998. A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 28 at New Sharon chapel. Interment followed at Calvary cemetery. She is survived by nine nieces, 10 nephews, 28 grandnieces, 23 grandnephews, 20 great-grandnieces, 15 great-grandnephews, one great-great-grandniece, one great-great-grandnephew and her religious community.
Share this story