Sister M. Elaine Gurkie

april 2, 1943 - January 13, 2009

Sister M. Elaine (Margaret) Gurkie died on January 13, 2009, at St. Mary Hospital in Passaic, N.J. She was 65 and in her 46th year of religious life.

Born on April 2, 1943, to Edward and Mary (Sivak) Gurkie in Jersey City, N.J., Margaret was baptized and confirmed in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and taught by our Sisters in the parish grade school. She was the youngest in her family, preceded in death by two older sisters. Her father died when she was young, and Margaret was deeply affected by the example of her mother, who was left to raise three young girls. 

After graduating from eighth grade in 1957, Margaret was one of the first to enroll as a freshman at St. Francis Academy, which had recently opened at Monocacy Manor. She was also the first young woman to enter the aspirancy of the newly-established Bethlehem Province.

On August 2, 1961, Margaret received the name of Sister Edward at her reception into the novitiate, professing first vows in 1962 and final vows in 1967. When the Sisters were permitted to change the names given to them at their reception, Sister Edward chose to be called Sister Elaine. 

Sister Elaine held a bachelor’s degree from Holy Family College in Philadelphia and a master’s degree in education from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Throughout her years of ministry, Sister Elaine served in the Dioceses of Philadelphia, Allentown, Newark, Paterson and Springfield. Her teaching assignments included SS. Cyril and Methodius School in Bethlehem, Pa.; Blessed Virgin in Northampton, Pa.; SS. Cyril and Methodius in Clifton, N.J.; St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem, Pa,; St. Ignatius Loyola in West Lawn, Pa.; and St. Mary School in Closter, N.J.

Sister served as principal at SS. Cyril and Methodius School in Bethlehem from 1978 to 1984. Named as first director of St. Francis Day Care Center at Monocacy Manor in 1985, Sister Elaine ministered to the children and their families until 1993. She went on to serve for five years as dean of student affairs at St. Joseph School in New Milford, N.J., and for four years as principal of St. Mary School in Wharton, N.J.

Her parish work experience included St. Peter Church in Westfield, Mass., and Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Lee, N.J. Sister Elaine also generously shared her talents in service to her religious community, serving as school supervisor for the Bethlehem Province and as a member of the Provincial Council from 1986 to 1990.

Sister Elaine is remembered as a woman of vision, wisdom and compassion, who always put others before herself. She had a light-hearted and joyful spirit and often was the life of the party with her storytelling.

Sister Elaine is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa.