Sr. Diane Salkowski, CSJ, formerly known as Virginia Salkowski, died Jan. 25 in Kalamazoo, She was 93.

Virginia Salkowski was born Jan. 17, 1918 in Detroit to Edwin and Catherine (Lukowska) Salkowski. She was a member of St. David of Wales Parish in Detroit at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on June 24, 1938. She received the name Sr. Diane at her reception on January 9, 1939. She pronounced first vows Jan. 7, 1941 and final vows Jan. 9, 1944.

Sr. Salkowski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Nazareth College, near Kalamazoo. She spent 21 years in the operating room and as a pediatrics nurse at St. John Hospital in Detroit and Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.

While at Borgess Hospital she organized and wrote a reference manual for Central Service, which was a valuable contribution to efficient hospital administration. Sr. Salkowski’s education and experience reinforced her nursing skills and surfaced her organizational talents. These skills in hospital planning took her to several Michigan hospitals and to other states as well as to seven European countries. 

During a 15-year period she worked for the Public Health Services Division of Hospitals and Medical Facilities in Washington, D.C. In 1970 she worked for the Herman Miller Corporation as a consultant in their endeavor to analyze and systematize various hospital procedures.

Sr. Salkowski’s ministry also included teaching at the St. Camillus School of Nursing in Kalamazoo. In 1981 she retired to Fontbonne Manor.

She is survived by a brother, Ted Salkowski of St. Clair Shores, and by nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 28 in Holy Family Chapel, Nazareth. Interment was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Nazareth.

Memorials to Congregation of St. Joseph, 3427 Gull Road, P.O. Box 29, Nazareth 49074.