A Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 9 at Holy Family Chapel in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township for Sister of Charity Lillian Silkowski, formerly Sister Francis Anthony, who died on July 1 at Complete Care at St. Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. She was 91 years old.
Born in Passaic, Sister Silkowski was raised in Belleville. She entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth in 1952 and was a member for 72 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of St. Elizabeth (now St. Elizabeth University) in Convent Station.
Sister Silkowski served in education ministry in New Jersey for more than 50 years. She taught at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Tenafly, Immaculate Conception School in Elizabeth, Epiphany School in Cliffside Park, Holy Cross School in Harrison, and St. Mary’s School in Jersey City. She was also dean of students at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Hoboken.
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In 1994, the Newark Archdiocese honored Sister Silkowski with a Teacher Recognition Award.
Sister Silkowski moved to the Convent of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station in 2008. When her health declined, she moved to St. Joseph’s Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cedar Grove, where she lived until her death.
Sister Silkowski was predeceased by her parents, Anthony and Mildred (Egginson) Silkowski; her sisters, Viola, Elaine Macenko, and Thelma Ivey; and her brother, Robert. She is survived by her Sisters of Charity community and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
Contributions in Sister Silkowski’s memory can be made to the Sisters of Charity Legacy and Mission Advancement Office, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, N.J., 07961.
