Sister Vitalia Tomcho would have celebrated her 107th birthday in early June. Instead, she celebrated her patronal Feast Day by entering into the Heavenly Kingdom on Friday morning, April 22, 2016.
Sister Vitalia entered the community in Elmhurst, Pa., in 1930 when the community was only in existence nine years. She was one of the first vocations to answer the call to the Sisters of St. Basil. A daughter of the late Stephen and Anna (Belley) Tomcho, Sister Vitalia was born in Walhonding, Ohio. She entered the Sisters of St. Basil from St. Gregory Church in Lakewood, Ohio, on Oct. 27, 1930 and pronounced her First Vows on Aug. 30, 1932. Sister Vitalia made her Solemn Perpetual Profession on Aug. 21, 1938, in the presence of Bishop Basil Takach of blessed memory. In her vocation story which was published a few years ago, Sister Vitalia stated that teaching became her lifelong work. In fact, at the time of her retirement from active ministry, Sister had the distinction of offering the longest active service of any of the Sisters in community. Her teaching ministry spanned 67 years, most of these as a fulltime teacher and/or principal. Only the last few years were spent in tutoring on a
In fact, at the time of her retirement from active ministry, Sister had the distinction of offering the longest active service of any of the Sisters in community. Her teaching ministry spanned 67 years, most of these as a fulltime teacher and/or principal. Only the last few years were spent in tutoring on a part time basis. At the age of 90, she decided it was a good time to retire.
Although Sister Vitalia liked all of the places where she was sent, her favorite time and place was teaching the sciences and math at Mount St. Macrina Academy in the 1950s. It was a great joy for her when the Alumnae returned to the Mount for their reunions and took the time to visit with her. She truly enjoyed life and the people she met throughout her life. Sister Vitalia spent the last nine years of her life as a resident at Mount Macrina Manor in Uniontown. Visitors often found her with her rosary beads in hand, but she was always ready for a chat. Over the years, Sister Vitalia became well-known to many of the caregivers. It was touching to see that during her last hours on earth, quite a few of them stopped by her room for a final farewell. In his homily at the Funeral Divine Liturgy, Father Andrew Deskevich remarked that in thanking God for having known and loved someone like Sister Vitalia, “we are in fact thanking God for revealing something of Himself yet again in human form.” He expanded upon this saying that “in the goodness of every human being, there is another, if different revelation of God, incomplete, flawed, but nevertheless, a mirror of His love.” We are here in life to echo the life of Christ. Sister Vitalia, in her long life, learned from God to let go of herself and to live for others. We thank God for the “echo” of Christ that we glimpsed within her as she manifested her faithfulness to her vocation with a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm. Sister Vitalia was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Michael and Stephen, and sister Mary Hausman. In addition to her Sisters in community, she is survived by her devoted niece
Over the years, Sister Vitalia became well-known to many of the caregivers. It was touching to see that during her last hours on earth, quite a few of them stopped by her room for a final farewell. In his homily at the Funeral Divine Liturgy, Father Andrew Deskevich remarked that in thanking God for having known and loved someone like Sister Vitalia, “we are in fact thanking God for revealing something of Himself yet again in human form.” He expanded upon this saying that “in the goodness of every human being, there is another, if different revelation of God, incomplete, flawed, but nevertheless, a mirror of His love.” We are here in life to echo the life of Christ. Sister Vitalia, in her long life, learned from God to let go of herself and to live for others. We thank God for the “echo” of Christ that we glimpsed within her as she manifested her faithfulness to her vocation with a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm. Sister Vitalia was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Michael and Stephen, and sister Mary Hausman. In addition to her Sisters in community, she is survived by her devoted niece
We are here in life to echo the life of Christ. Sister Vitalia, in her long life, learned from God to let go of herself and to live for others. We thank God for the “echo” of Christ that we glimpsed within her as she manifested her faithfulness to her vocation with a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm. Sister Vitalia was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Michael and Stephen, and sister Mary Hausman. In addition to her Sisters in community, she is survived by her devoted niece Barbara Akins and her family. The Parastas Service was concelebrated Friday evening, April 29 by Rev. Michael Huszti, Monastery Chaplain, and Very Rev. Ronald P. Larko. In attendance were Very Rev. Archpriest John Petro, Rev, James Spontak, Rev. Stephen Wahal and Rev. Robert Oravetz.
The Funeral Divine Liturgy was offered on Saturday, April 30 in the Monastery Chapel by Very Rev. Andrew J. Deskevich with Rev. Michael Huszti as concelebrant. Interment followed in the Dormition Section of Mount Macrina Cemetery.
