Posted October 7, 2016

Sister Marie Clare Kleschick, S.S.J., age 91, died Sept. 3 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, in the 73^rd year of her religious life.

Born in Philadelphia on June 26, 1925, she was the daughter of William A. Kleschick and Frances Wunsch Kleschick. She attended Holy Child Grade School and St. Mary’s Academy in Philadelphia. In September 1943, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph and professed final vows on Aug. 8, 1951.

She earned an A.B. from Chestnut Hill College and an M.A. from University of Notre Dame in English literature.

As an educator, Sister Marie taught in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at Ascension and St. Helena Grade Schools and St. Maria Goretti, Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop John Carroll and John W. Hallahan High Schools, and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook.

She also taught in schools in the Allentown and Trenton dioceses, and the Archdiocese of Newark.

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Sister Marie was a convent helper at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia for several years. In September 2007 she was missioned as a St. Joseph Villa resident where she died.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 8 at St. Joseph Villa.

Sister Marie is the sister of Ann Klunk (Charles), Loretta Ferry, Gerald Kleschick and the late William Kleschick (Margaret), Joseph Kleschick, Frances Dampf (John), Mary Dombowski (Chester), Catherine Murphy (John), Sister Alma Frances Kleschick, S.S.J., sister-in saw of Barbara Kleschick and Bernard Ferry.

She is also survived by nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and members of her community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.