Sister Eileen Buryska, 65, Rochester
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Sister Eileen Buryska, age 65, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, who served as an educator, died on Monday, March 10, 2003, at Assisi Heights.
Born Eileen Buryska on April 29, 1937, in Owatonna, Sister Eileen entered the Franciscan Congregation in 1956 from Sacred Heart Parish, Owatonna. She made profession of vows in 1959 and began her teaching ministry at Saint Augustine Parish, Austin. A four-month language program in 1971 took her to Cochabamba, Bolivia; then followed 15 years of ministry in Chulucanas, Peru. Over a period of five years Sister Eileen participated in developing and initiating a new pastoral plan for the rural communities of Peru, &uot;The New Image of the Parish,&uot; and from 1983-1986 she was coordinator of Bishop McNabb’s pastoral office. In 1986 Sister Eileen returned to the states and ministered among the Mexican-Americans as a Hispanic minister in Albert Lea. In 1992 she was invited to serve in South America to establish an incorporation program for Colombian women into the Rochester Franciscan Congregation. In 1999 Sister Eileen reached out to the Hispanic peoples of St. Michael’s Parish of South Sioux City, Neb., and worked as a pastoral minister until she came to Assisi Heights due to illness. Sister celebrated her silver jubilee in 1984.
Sister Eileen is survived by her Franciscan Community and by her mother, Martha Buryska of Owatonna; by three brothers: Sylvester, Robert and David Buryska, all of Owatonna; and by two sisters: Theresa Carey of Waunakee, Wis., and Betty Schaeffer of Beavercreek, Ohio.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 13, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, with the Rev. Jim Buryska officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at Assisi Heights at the wake service at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, and also until the time of service on Thursday.