In Memoriam

Sr. Juliana Kowal, D.C.
Class of '38

St. Juliana Kowal, D.C., a graduate of and beloved science instructor for 23 years at St. Joseph College, died at age 94 on Oct. 17, 2010 at Villa St. Michael, Emmitsburg. A Daughter of Charity for 73 years, Juliana Catherine Kowal was born April 25, 1916, in Baltimore to Francis and Potocka Kowal (also known as Cole), both of whom emigrated from Poland.

Her mother died of the flu when Juliana was very young. Years later, her father remarried and Juliana and her brother Walter became part of a larger family with stepsisters, Mary, Anna and Tina, and stepbrother Alex. Juliana attended Notre Dame Academy high school in Washington, D.C., where she met the Daughters of Charity “who made a deep impression” on her, she said, and nurtured her vocation to religious life.

Originally a member of the SJC Class of 1938, Sr. Juliana graduated from the Daughters’ seminary (novitiate) in 1937, and was missioned as a teacher to St. Joseph’s School in Albany, NY. That was the first stop on her 58-year career as an educator. She served at St. Ambrose School, Endicott, NY, from 1944 to 1946, teaching science and taking “care of the boys.” She let them play basketball in the gym, and in return, they helped clean her classroom!

Sr. Juliana returned to Baltimore in 1946 and taught biology at Seton High School. As did many other Daughters of Charity, she visited the sick in hospitals and the poor in their homes, and loved that ministry. While teaching full time, she completed her B.A. degree in science and English at SJC in 1944.

In 1948, Sr. Juliana gratefully accepted the opportunity to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She graduated in 1950 with a major in zoology and a minor in botany, and then began teaching biology at St. Joseph’s College, serving until the school closed in 1973. She loved bringing up-to-date technology and developments into her classroom and enthusiastically introduced new courses to broaden the curriculum. She considered it a privilege to touch the lives of so many young women, and enjoyed keeping in touch with her former students through the SJC Alumnae Association. In recent years, she was a “star attraction” at our SJC reunion “Tea with the Sisters” at the Provincial House.

In 1972 Sr. Juliana became chair of the biology department at Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, MD. She was thrilled to bring her college teaching experience into the high school setting during a time in education when students were encouraged to learn by doing hands- on projects in small groups. She was able to motivate many students to pursue a college education, and was very happy when they did.

In 1986, at age 70, Sr. Juliana moved to Greensboro, NC, and served in parish ministry at Dolan Manor. She helped to create and continue programs and activities for the elderly. In 1989, she returned home to Baltimore to work with residents of St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Home as assistant activities director. After four years, Sr. Juliana was sent to St. Matthew’s in Spotsylvania, VA, where she managed a thrift shop. Then she served once again at St. Elizabeth’s in Baltimore.

On Aug. 20, 2000, at age 84, she retired to Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, where she said she “loved the spiritual life she shared with the other Sisters, the joyful community, and the loving care” she received.

Sr. Juliana was a member of the National Science Teachers Association, the Maryland Association of Biology Teachers, the National Association of Biology Teachers, and the National Science Supervisors Association. She also served as a regional director of Beta Beta Beta, the National Biological Honor Society.

She often credited other Daughters of Charity for mentoring her and providing her with the skills to learn new things. An accomplished educator, Sr. Juliana was also an accomplished student, who valued her education and taught her students to do the same. Her love of learning reflected her love of life. Whether it was sports, conversation or learning something new, she enjoyed life immensely.

Sr. Juliana was predeceased by her parents and siblings. She was laid to rest in the Sisters Cemetery on the grounds of St. Joseph Provincial House. Those who would like to share memories of Sr. Juliana may do so on the SJC Blog (click the Comments link at the bottom of the post to submit comments for approval).

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