Sr. Mary Dennis Glonek, CSSF, former provincial minister of the Felician Sisters, died Dec. 15 at Blessed Mary Angela Convent in Livonia.  She was 85 and a religious sister for 66 years.

Born June 11, 1926, in Toledo, Ohio, she was the daughter of Alexander and Salome (Kaminski) Glonek. She was baptized Louise Ann Glonek at St. Adalbert Church, Toledo, where she also attended the parish grade school.

She entered the Aspirancy of the Felician Sisters in Detroit on Aug. 18, 1940 where she completed high school at the Seminary of the Felician Sisters and was admitted as a postulant in 1944. Invested with the Felician habit the following year, she received the name, Sr. Mary Dennis.  She made her first profession in 1946 and pronounced final vows in 1952.

Sr. Glonek earned a bachelor’s degree from Madonna College (now University), a master’s degree from Creighton University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry degree from the University of Notre Dame.

For 36 years, she served in Catholic education, teaching at St. Stanislaus, Detroit, St. Andrew, Detroit; St. Florian, Hamtramck; Ladywood High School; Livonia; and Catholic Central High School, Toledo, Ohio.

In 1962 she was appointed assistant professor of chemistry at Madonna University. She served as department chair of chemistry and later was promoted to division head of Science and Mathematics. She also served as dean of students and director of residents. From 1971 to 1975 she was awarded the Outstanding Educator of America Award annually . 

In 1988 Sr. Glonek was elected the 17th provincial minister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province in Livonia and in 1994 was re-elected for another six-year term. 

During her administration, her vision and dedicated leadership with her councilors significantly influenced the growth and development of the province’s sponsored ministries on the provincial grounds that included:  St. Mary Hospital, Madonna University, Angela Hospice Care Center, Marywood Nursing Care Center and Marybrook Manor, Ladywood High School, St. Mary Hospital Child Care Center, Senior Clergy Village, and an extensive renovation of the motherhouse. 

In 1995 she was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Education by Madonna University, acknowledging her leadership in the congregation and local community. 

In 2008, Sr. Glonek became a resident of St. Joseph Convent. Deeply spiritual, quiet and unassuming, she continued to lend a helping hand wherever needed.  She loved the Eucharist, and daily adoration was a priority for as long as she was able to move about. 

She was preceded in death by her brothers Chester and Richard; and her sisters Celia Roller and Dorothy Fahringer. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was concelebrated Dec. 18 by Cardinals Edmund C. Szoka and Adam Maida, with Fr.. Timothy Babcock giving the homily, in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Central Convent in Livonia. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.