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Sister Melanie (Mary) Wanat, OSBM

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Sister Melanie (Mary) Wanat fell asleep in the Lord early Friday morning, July 1, 2011 at Mt. Macrina Manor. She had been a member of the Uniontown Province of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great for 79 years.

Sister Melanie was born in Scranton, PA, the daughter of the late Joseph and Anastasia (Mendzak) Wanat.

A member of St. John’s Byzantine Catholic Parish in Pottstown, PA, she entered the Sisters of St. Basil the Great on July 19, 1932 in Factoryville, PA. Sister Melanie pronounced her First Vows on December 4, 1934 and made her Solemn Profession on November 28, 1940 in the presence of the late Bishop Basil Takach.

Like many of the Sisters, Sister Melanie served for many years as an educator in parishes of the Metropolitan Province of Pittsburgh, chiefly in the primary grades. Summers were spent pursuing studies or teaching catechetical classes. Following her years of teaching, Sister Melanie also served for a few years at St. Basil’s Home and at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary.

Upon retiring to the monastery, Sister Melanie devoted her time to the duties of the sacristan which she carried out efficiently and with dedication. When her health declined, Sister Melanie still kept herself busy doing beautiful handwork. She especially enjoyed needlepoint, and one of her works graces the corridor near the sacristy.

In the earlier years of the Annual Pilgrimage, Sister Melanie was most often in charge of the children’s procession. Preparing the capes which the children wore and arranging for the flowers which they carried were all attended to with the greatest care. Photos from those years depict a long line of little girls in white dresses and veils or flowers in their hair and little boys in white shirts and dark trousers marching two-by-two under the watchful eye of Sister Melanie and her helpers.

In her final years as a resident of Mt. Macrina Manor, one could be sure of a welcoming smile from Sister Melanie when visiting. Her prayerful spirit and quiet nature made her an easy person to care for. As often as she could do so; Sister was present at the Divine Liturgy, adding her voice in praise of the Lord she served so devotedly for close to 80 years. Now all those years of loving service accompanied her as she gave back her life to the Lord.

Sister Melanie was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers George, John and Joseph, and her sisters Anna Karvetsky and Irene Hovanec.

In addition to her Sisters in community, she is survived by several devoted nephews and nieces.

Relatives and friends will be received at the MONASTERY CHAPEL today, July 5, 2011 from 3:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The Parastas Service will be sung at 7:00 pm. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 6 at 10:30 am in the Monastery Chapel.

Interment will follow in the Dormition Section of Mount Macrina Cemetery.

KEZMARSKY FUNERAL HOME, 71 Pennsylvania Avenue, Uniontown, is in charge of arrangements.

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