Sr. Patricia Wojtaszek, a member of the Servants of Jesus, died Jan. 1 at St. Francis Home in Saginaw. She was 89 and in her 72nd year of religious life.

Born Aug. 14, 1924, in Detroit, Patricia was the fifth of the eight children of Mary and John Wojtaszek.   All her siblings preceded her in death, but Patricia is survived by several nieces and nephews. Sr. Wojtaszek attended St. Josaphat Elementary School and the Felician Academy High School. Shortly after her graduation, Patricia entered the convent of the Felician Sisters in Livonia. She professed her final vows in the Felician congregation Aug. 15, 1952. After much discernment, Patricia joined the Servants of Jesus Community in 1978.

Sr. Wojtaszek graduated from Madonna College in 1953, and continued her education at the University of Detroit, University of Ottawa, at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia, and Notre Dame.

She served as principal at Our Lady Help of Christians School, Detroit, and Holy Spirit School in Grand Rapids. She also supervised the reading clinic at Madonna University.

In 1981, she became pastoral associate director at Mercy Hospital in Port Huron. In 1985, she became director of pastoral care at Bon Secours Nursing Center in St. Clair Shores, where she established the department.

After her retirement, Sr. Wojtaszek continued to visit the homebound, hospitals and nursing homes.  She also engaged in a telephone and letter ministry — always remembering how these gestures cheered seniors and those suffering illness.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 21 at St. Sabina Church, Dearborn Heights. Interment is in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Detroit. Memorials to the Servants of Jesus Retirement Fund.