December 12, 1927 – May 26, 2023
Sr. Mary Lucy Rezler, a Felician Sister for 78 years, entered eternal life May 26, 2023, at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent, Livonia, Michigan.
Sr. Mary Lucy was born on Dec. 12, 1927, in Bay City, Michigan, the youngest of eight children born to Theodore and Michalina Rezler.
Baptized and confirmed at St. Stanislaus Church, Bay City, she attended the parish grade school, and high school at St. James, also in Bay City. Contact with the Felician Sisters at St. Stanislaus sparked an aspiration for religious life. She was admitted to the Felician Congregation on June 29, 1945, and in the following year received the name of Sister Mary Manuela, later changed to Sister Mary Lucy. First Profession of vows was in 1947 and Final Profession in 1953.
Reading was an enjoyment in her youth since there was no TV at that time. On one occasion, missing for several hours, the whole family searched nervously all over for her. Ready to call the police, someone finally found her asleep in the old Ford car, curled up with a book.
Sister Lucy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Madonna (College) University and a Master’s degree from Wayne State, Detroit. A teacher of primary and middle grades for 55 years, she was assigned to the following schools: St. Stanislaus, Resurrection, Patronage of St. Joseph, Our Lady Help of Christians, St. Stephen, Mary Mother of the Church, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, St. Florian – Hamtramck, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – Wyandotte, Our Lady of Refuge Orchard Lake, all in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Sister taught and was also principal at St. Christine, Detroit.
Teaching assignments in other dioceses included: St. Valentine, Beaver; St. Joseph, Manistee; St. Stanislaus and St. Hyacinth, Bay City; St. Cecilia, Clare; St. Jude, Grand Rapids; St. Adalbert, Toledo, Ohio; and St. Mary’s in Otis, Indiana.
Conscientious and precise with her students, and knowledgeable and confident about her subject matter, Sister displayed creativity in teaching. She always maintained a neat, orderly, and attractive classroom. With an interest in hair cutting and styling, Sister pursued studies at the Hamtramck Beauty School and received a diploma in Cosmetology. Many of the sisters remember Sister Lucy when she managed the Hair Salon in Loretta Hall in the summer months.
At her last assignment at the age of 75, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte, Sister Lucy tutored children for another 8 years and, at times, was a substitute teacher. She was permanently transferred to St. Joseph Care Center in 2011 with the assignment of house duties along with hair cutting, and in 2013 joined the sisters in the ministry of prayer.
Sister’s medical condition declined over the past months. Felician Sisters and family kept vigil for several days and nights. At 12:59 am, May 26, 2023, Sister Lucy completed her life’s journey and slipped slowly and peacefully into God’s eternal embrace. Mass of Resurrection took place in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent Chapel, Livonia, Michigan. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.
