Reine Siwajek ends career at St. Adalbert |
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Written by JIM RICHARD, Special to the Chronicle
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Friday, 01 August 2008 01:00 |
TOLEDO—Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “sacristan” as “a person in charge of a sacristy.”
Reine Siwajek, who relinquished that title at Toledo St. Adalbert June 30, after 37 years in the role, has a much more comprehensive definition.
“They asked me to prepare a list of all the things I do so my successor would have some guidelines,” Mrs. Siwajek says.
The list ran seven pages!
Mrs. Siwajek, who turns 80 this month, began working at the parish in 1971 when Father Joseph Mrowca was pastor. She retired just as Father Marek Ciesla ended a 12-year stay at St. Adalbert, the last 10 as pastor. Fr. Ciesla, who has returned to his native Poland, is the fourth pastor during Mrs. Siwajek’s career.
“She took her job very seriously,” notes one of her daughters, LuAnne Tafelski, a secretary at Sylvania St. Joseph, one of three of her eight children still in this area. “She was aware of every detail and took responsibility for candles, vestments, altar linens and flowers.”
Religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, were very special.
Flowers, evergreens, lights, candles had to be ordered and placed.
“I had many helpers, of course,” Mrs. Siwajek recalls. “Sometimes the pastors had special ideas which I followed. I used to climb up on ladders to place wreaths and ribbons. Once I was high up in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin. I said a special prayer for balance and said to the statue: ‘If I fall, you are coming down with me!’ ”
All eight of her children graduated from the St. Adalbert grade school and she now has 15 grandchildren. Her husband died in 1978 and from then on, St. Adalbert parish and school became an even more comprehensive part of her life.
Her children remember their mother often was in the church from sun up to sundown the week before Christmas — and until one or two in the morning, along with the florist, the night before Christmas.
Mrs. Siwajek confesses she was very meticulous, too.
“I am sure some of the helpers were a bit exasperated when I made them climb back up a ladder because a ribbon or wreath in front of the choir loft wasn’t exactly straight,” she admits.
The parish had a retirement Mass and party for her June 15.
Now that it is August and she is retired, what is Mrs. Siwajek doing?
“I’m cleaning my closets at home,” she laughs. “They have been ignored too long.”
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Last Updated on Friday, 07 November 2008 09:04 |
