Sister Sylvia Puchoras

Sister Sylvia Puchoras, SSC
July 1, 1941 ─ November 7, 2025

Sister Sylvia was born on July 1, 1941, on the far south side of Chicago, in the Roseland neighborhood to Walter James and Ann Petreikis Puchoras. She had three sisters the late Barbara, (James Parker), Dolores Roberts, and Mary (Richard) Mikolainis,10 nieces and nephews, as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Sister Sylvia belonged to All Saints’ Parish and attended the parish elementary school, where the Sisters of St. Casimir taught her. She continued her high school education at St. Louis Academy for Girls in Roseland, graduating on June 3, 1959.

She entered the community as a postulant on September 8, 1959, and began her life as a Sister of St. Casimir, making her first profession on August 15, 1962. She celebrated her silver jubilee in 1987, golden jubilee in 2012, and diamond jubilee in 2022.

Sister Sylvia earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, DePaul University (Chicago) 1970 and a Master’s in (Reading) Education, Loyola University (Chicago) 1976.

Sister Sylvia’s 63 years of faithful service as a Sister of St. Casimir began as a primary teacher in elementary school. From 1962 to 1977, she taught at Nativity BVM, Immaculate Conception, and Saints Peter and Paul in Chicago; St. Norbert’s in Northbrook, IL; and St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen, MD. From 1977 to 2002, she served as principal of St. Mary/Our Lady of Peace School in Darien, IL.

Sister Sylvia’s memory remains in the hearts and minds of the faculty who worked with her at Our Lady of Peace for 25 years, and several of them were eager to share their memories.

Our success at Our Lady of Peace School was a tribute to Sister Sylvia’s hard work, leadership, vision, and dedication. She had a knack for hiring excellent teachers and nurturing their talent within the team. She set goals for staff and evaluated how well these goals were achieved. She could motivate and guide professional growth. As our principal, she shaped the conditions for students and staff to learn and succeed. Above all, she fostered a collaborative environment where we felt OLP was “family.” Sister Sylvia’s guidance and inspiration were the sources of our school’s success. (Cathy Didio)

It was an honor for me to serve as a faculty member at Our Lady of Peace School. Our faculty was professional and dedicated. Under the leadership of Sr. Sylvia, our school ran like a well-oiled machine. Sr. Sylvia always made sure that our textbooks were up-to-date and that we teachers were informed about current trends in education. She encouraged us to attend professional workshops and kept a well-stocked magazine rack of current professional periodicals. Sr. Sylvia had vision. Our Lady of Peace School had one of the first state-of-the-art computer labs in the area, built alongside a professionally designed art room. Our building was always clean and well-maintained; it was a pleasure to spend my days there. I will always be grateful to Sr. Sylvia for hiring me because I have wonderful memories of teaching at Our Lady of Peace School. (Mary Calamino)

I loved being part of Our Lady of Peace School, and I am grateful that Sister Sylvia allowed me to be a part of this special learning community. Sister Sylvia had her serious, get-down-to-business self at school, but also some lighter moments, like leading a Halloween parade in full costume every year with students, faculty, and staff for the benefit of parents and grandparents who were enjoying this once-a-year event! (Former faculty members at Our Lady of Peace)

On her 60th jubilee, Sister Sylvia shared:

“How grateful I am to our loving God who has gifted me with 60 years in His service. God has blessed me throughout these years with many faithful, wonderful Sisters within our community, a loving family, and special friends and coworkers who worked alongside me for 25 wonderful years when I served as principal of Our Lady of Peace School in Darien, IL. Our holy foundress, Mother Maria Kaupas, had modeled the way of faithful service for our congregation, and for that I remain deeply grateful.”

Life continued for Sister Sylvia after Our Lady of Peace. She moved to Maria High School Convent in Chicago for several years as the local superior, then to the Motherhouse, before the big move to Franciscan Village in Lemont, IL, where she moved into independent living, then to assisted living. One of the CNAs mentioned, “I miss her beautiful smile!” when she moved from assisted living to skilled care at Mother Theresa Home.

While in skilled care, a music therapist from hospice often came to her room to play instrumental music and sing along with it. Sister Sylvia joined in singing when she could. When a group of Sisters gathered around Sister Sylvia one evening to pray prayers for the dying, the music therapist came to visit her and provide music. Sister Sylvia could not sing, but the Sisters in the room did – a peaceful moment before Sister Sylvia went to sleep. Not long after, on November 7, God did call her home, and Sister Sylvia was at rest with her God.

Visitation and Wake Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Franciscan Village Chapel
1270 Village Drive
Lemont, IL 60439

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, November 22, 10:30 a.m.
Franciscan Village Chapel
The Mass will be live-streamed.
https://www.asimplestreaming.com/sister-sylvia-puchoras-ssc/

Celebrant: Father Bob Lucas, CM
Interment: St. Casimir Cemetery
Funeral Director: Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home