Obituaries
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PITTSBURG — Sister Patricia Nicholson, CSJ, (Sister Francis Mary), 71,
died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in
Wichita, KS after a brief illness. Sister Patricia had been a Sister of St.
Joseph of Carondelet for the past 52 years.
Sister Patricia was born December 14, 1938 in Syracuse, NY, daughter
of the late Francis and Mary Arnold Nicholson. She graduated from Most
Holy Rosary High School in Syracuse, entered the novitiate of the Sisters
of St. Joseph on March 19, 1958, and professed final vows on August 6,
1965. Sister Patricia received a bachelor’s degree in elementary
education and a master’s degree in special education, both from The
College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY. In addition, she received certification
in school administration from Fordham University and certification in
hospital chaplaincy from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
For 17 years, Sister Patricia taught and served as administrator in
schools in the Dioceses of Albany and Syracuse, NY, as well as in the
Newtonville (NY) School for the Disabled. In 1978, Sister Patricia began
her years of ministry in pastoral care and human resources in hospitals
in New York State, California, Arizona, Missouri and Kansas. At the time
of her death, Sister Patricia was Vice President of Mission Services at Via
Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas, a ministry very dear to her heart.
Sister Patricia was a dedicated teacher who worked diligently to help her
students realize their strengths and who encouraged and challenged
students to learn to overcome disabilities through those strengths.
Focusing on teaching the whole child, Sister Patricia used her head and
her heart in equal measure throughout the school day. In her service in
pastoral care and human resources, she displayed the same holistic
approach, bringing professional competence and compassionate
presence to administration, employees and patients alike. Sister Patricia
was a woman of faith whose vibrancy and zest for life radiated easily to
those around her. A devoted Sister of St. Joseph, a faithful family
member and friend and a supportive colleague, she will be deeply
missed.
Sister Patricia is survived by her beloved family: her brother and sister-in-
law, Michael and Linda Nicholson (Minoa, NY); her sisters and brothers-
in-law: Debra and Peter Vallar (Liverpool, NY); Susan and Leonard Hite
(Camden, NY); and Mary Kay and James Burkett (Syracuse, NY); by
several nieces and nephews and their families; by many cousins, friends
and colleagues; and by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
For Sister Patricia’s friends and colleagues in Kansas, calling hours will
be held on Monday, April 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a vigil service
at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pittsburg, Kansas. Calling
hours at St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham, NY, will be held
Wednesday, April 7 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with the prayer service at 7:00 p.
m. Sister Patricia’s funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, April 8,
at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham, NY.
Interment will be in Our Lady Queen of Virgins Cemetery on the
Provincial House grounds. Contributions in Sister Patricia’s memory may
be made to the Development Office of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 385
Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral
Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg.
died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in
Wichita, KS after a brief illness. Sister Patricia had been a Sister of St.
Joseph of Carondelet for the past 52 years.
Sister Patricia was born December 14, 1938 in Syracuse, NY, daughter
of the late Francis and Mary Arnold Nicholson. She graduated from Most
Holy Rosary High School in Syracuse, entered the novitiate of the Sisters
of St. Joseph on March 19, 1958, and professed final vows on August 6,
1965. Sister Patricia received a bachelor’s degree in elementary
education and a master’s degree in special education, both from The
College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY. In addition, she received certification
in school administration from Fordham University and certification in
hospital chaplaincy from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
For 17 years, Sister Patricia taught and served as administrator in
schools in the Dioceses of Albany and Syracuse, NY, as well as in the
Newtonville (NY) School for the Disabled. In 1978, Sister Patricia began
her years of ministry in pastoral care and human resources in hospitals
in New York State, California, Arizona, Missouri and Kansas. At the time
of her death, Sister Patricia was Vice President of Mission Services at Via
Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas, a ministry very dear to her heart.
Sister Patricia was a dedicated teacher who worked diligently to help her
students realize their strengths and who encouraged and challenged
students to learn to overcome disabilities through those strengths.
Focusing on teaching the whole child, Sister Patricia used her head and
her heart in equal measure throughout the school day. In her service in
pastoral care and human resources, she displayed the same holistic
approach, bringing professional competence and compassionate
presence to administration, employees and patients alike. Sister Patricia
was a woman of faith whose vibrancy and zest for life radiated easily to
those around her. A devoted Sister of St. Joseph, a faithful family
member and friend and a supportive colleague, she will be deeply
missed.
Sister Patricia is survived by her beloved family: her brother and sister-in-
law, Michael and Linda Nicholson (Minoa, NY); her sisters and brothers-
in-law: Debra and Peter Vallar (Liverpool, NY); Susan and Leonard Hite
(Camden, NY); and Mary Kay and James Burkett (Syracuse, NY); by
several nieces and nephews and their families; by many cousins, friends
and colleagues; and by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
For Sister Patricia’s friends and colleagues in Kansas, calling hours will
be held on Monday, April 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a vigil service
at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pittsburg, Kansas. Calling
hours at St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham, NY, will be held
Wednesday, April 7 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with the prayer service at 7:00 p.
m. Sister Patricia’s funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, April 8,
at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham, NY.
Interment will be in Our Lady Queen of Virgins Cemetery on the
Provincial House grounds. Contributions in Sister Patricia’s memory may
be made to the Development Office of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 385
Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral
Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg.
© Bath-Naylor Inc. 2010