Sister Elizabeth Stelmack, Sister Edward Maureen, was born November 18, 1928, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, one of 12 children — seven daughters and five sons — of Joseph and Balbina Baleski Stelmack. Elizabeth attended Lincoln Elementary School and Lyndhurst High School in New Jersey. After graduation, she studied at Saint Joseph’s Hospital Nursing School in Yonkers, earning an LPN. She worked for one year at American Legion Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on February 2, 1951. In 1967, Sister Edward received a Bachelor of Arts in history from College of Mount Saint Vincent (now University of Mount Saint Vincent) and, in 1974, earned an Associate in Applied Science from Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York. In 1977, Sister Elizabeth was licensed as a registered nurse.

All of Sister Elizabeth’s 51 years of active service were devoted to the ministry of nursing.

For the first 17 years, she worked as a staff nurse at St. Vincent’s, Staten Island; St. Vincent’s, Harrison; Convent of Mary the Queen, Yonkers; and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Manhattan. After full-time studies for her nursing degree, Sister Elizabeth served at Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn; the Outpatient Clinic of St. Vincent’s, Manhattan; as patient representative at St. Vincent’s, Harrison; and at Our Lady of Mercy, the Bronx.

In 2004, Sister Elizabeth retired from active ministry and offered her time as a volunteer for seven years at St. Vincent’s, Harrison. In 2011, she joined the retirement community at Mount Saint Vincent Convent, and in 2020 moved into the retirement community at Kittay Senior Apartments of The New Jewish Home in the Bronx. It is here she entered eternal life on September 10, 2024, in the 74th year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York.

Sister Elizabeth spoke lovingly of her large family and her home where both Polish and English were spoken, and meals included Polish and American foods. Her years at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Staten Island, were particularly special for her as she learned there the many aspects of nursing care.

Sister Elizabeth, the day and hour of God’s call to the fullness of life has come for you. The promise of eternal life in God is prepared and ready, and the One who promises “… was never anything but YES” (2 Cor. 1:19). Go forward to complete your life’s journey and know the peace only our God can give.

Funeral: Friday, September 13, 2024

Wake: 8:30-10:00 am, Prayer Service at 9:30 am, Mount Saint Vincent Convent Livestream link.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:15 am, Mount Saint Vincent Convent Livestream link

Interment: St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 209 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY