Posted February 9, 2021

Sister M. Ryszarda (Richard) Kopec, L.S.I.C., 93, died Jan. 29 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, having lived in the community at St. Joseph’s Senior Home in Woodbridge, N.J. since 2014.

Zofia Kopec entered the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in 1947. A dedicated religious for 73 years, she professed her final vows in 1957.

As a trained dietician, Sister Ryszarda worked in kindergarten classes, children’s homes, a provincial house and a religious guest house in Poland.

She came to St. Joseph’s Convent in Woodbridge in 1984. From 1988 to 1996 she was the chef at the archbishop’s residence in Philadelphia for both Cardinal John Krol and Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, after which she returned to serve at St. Joseph’s.

She was an excellent baker and vegetable gardener, and was beloved for her cheerfulness, kindness and prayerfulness. In her final years she prayed fervently, attending two Masses daily and cheered the St. Joseph’s Senior Home residents.

Sister Ryszarda is survived by her siblings, Sister Teresa Kopec, LSIC and Anna Ignas; other relatives and her religious community.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 4 at the Provincialate Chapel in Cherry Hill, N.J. and interment followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Chews Landing. Arrangements were by Ciechanowski Funeral Home of Runnemede.

Memorial contributions in Sister Ryszarda’s memory may be sent to the Little Servant Sisters, Provincialate, 1000 Cropwell Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.