<\/p>\n
Sister Mary Felice Duska, RSM<\/p>\n
Sister Mary Felice Duska, RSM, died on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse in Erie.<\/p>\n
She was in the 74th year of her religious life. Born on Dec. 31, 1934, in Erie, she was the daughter of the late Felix and Josephine S. (Ditrich) Duska. She was baptized in Holy Family Church in Erie and entered the Sisters of Mercy on Aug. 15, 1952, in Titusville, where she professed her perpetual vows on July 31, 1958.<\/p>\n
Sr. Felice graduated from Mercyhurst Seminary prior to the high school\u2019s relocation and renaming to Mercyhurst Preparatory School. Both her bachelor\u2019s degree from Mercyhurst College (University) and her master\u2019s degree from Duquesne University were in Music Education.<\/p>\n
Her teaching began in the classrooms of St. Catherine, DuBois; St. Titus, Titusville; and St. Michael, Greenville. Soon she started teaching piano full-time for nearly 40 years, in these Catholic diocesan schools as well as in St. Justin, Pittsburgh, and St. Patrick, Franklin.<\/p>\n
Sr. Felice\u2019s talents for leadership and administration, and for financial stewardship and planning were recognized early in her religious life. For 13 years, she served on the Leadership Team of the Erie Sisters of Mercy. Over the years, she was actively engaged on six boards of trustees for Sisters of Mercy ministries in education and healthcare and on several Catholic diocesan committees. She served on the boards of the Erie Mercy Associates and Mercy Volunteer Corps in their formative years.<\/p>\n
In 1994, Sr. Felice transitioned into the housing ministry at Mercy Terrace Apartments in Erie. Shortly, she became its Executive Director, a position she attended to with love, faith and expertise for 26 years until her retirement 2020.<\/p>\n
Her dedication to multiple services in the Mercy community and Catholic church brought her the recognition of the Serra Club for Outstanding Religious of the Year in 2013 and with the Distinguished Alumna Award for Service from Mercyhurst Preparatory School in 2016.<\/p>\n
Not one to retire, in her later years she continued to serve on the boards of her alma mater Mercyhurst Prep and of Mercy Hilltop Center. She always came to the aid of her Mercy community and family in any way possible. For years, until late this spring, she directed the Sisters\u2019 choir at the Motherhouse.<\/p>\n
Her religious community, her sister-in-law, Brenda Duska, of Villanova, seven nephews and nieces and their families survive her. In addition to her parents, her brother, Ronald Duska, and sister-in-law, Barbara Stanopewicz Duska, preceded her in death.<\/p>\n
Friends may call at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse, 444 East Grandview Blvd. on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. A vigil service will be held there on Friday evening at 7 p.m. Visiting will also be held at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, in the Sisters of Mercy Chapel. The Rite of Committal will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.<\/p>\n
Memorial contributions may be made to a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in the name of Sister Mary Felice.<\/p>\n
Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pine Branch, 845 E 38th St, Erie, PA 16504, is handling the arrangements.<\/p>\n