Sister Antoinette Kostelnik, SCN, 98,

Sister Antoinette Kostelnik, SCN, 98, was born in Trauger, PA on January 4, 1925 to Slovak immigrants Michael and Anna Uhrin Kostelnik. Baptized at St Florian’s Church in United, she was one of ten siblings consisting of 3 boys and 7 girls.  Four of the girls were eventually called to become Vincentian Sisters of Charity – Sisters Canice (Veronica), John Gabriel (Ann), Antoinette (Bernadette) and Seraphine (Helen).  Sister Antoinette, the last of the Kostelnik religious sisters, died on September 12, 2023, at Vincentian Home in McCandless, PA.

Antoinette attended Vincentian High School as an Aspirant and then entered the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (VSC) as a candidate in 1942, making her perpetual vows on August 8, 1952. In 2008, she transferred her vows when the Vincentian Sisters of Charity merged with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Sister Antoinette wanted to be a sister and teacher from early childhood.  She received her B.Ed. from Duquesne University and a M.A. in theology from the University of Notre Dame.  Her Ministry began as a teacher in several elementary schools in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1964, she began to teach Religion at Boyle High School and remained there for 14 years. Returning to her Alma Mater in 1978, Sister Antoinette continued to teach Religion to students at Vincentian Academy until her retirement from teaching in 2012. She also served as the Director of Ongoing Formation for the Vincentian Sisters from 1983 to 1987 while she continued to teach.

In October 2012, Sister Antoinette became a resident of Lourdes Hall at St. Louise Convent (the former Vincentian Motherhouse) and served as an Apostolate of Prayer.  She also participated as an informal advisor to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates in Pittsburgh, helping to strengthen their commitment to the charism of Charity. When the convent was closed in August 2020, Sister Antoinette became a resident of Vincentian Home until her death on September 12, 2023.

She is survived by her remaining sisters Catherine and Margaret, along with many nieces and nephews, as well as her religious community, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at St. Louise Convent, Sacred Heart Chapel located at 8200 McKnight Road; Pittsburgh PA 15237 (use the Garden Entrance behind the convent) starting at 9:00 AM with sister’s wake at 10:00 AM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM with burial to follow in the Sisters’ Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Office of Mission Advancement; P.O. Box 9; Nazareth, Kentucky 40048.