Sister Mary Elise, Alphonsine Milostan, of Alpena, Mich., born on Feb. 6, 1926, was the third of five children of John and Clara (Budnik). Baptized at St. Mary Church, Alpena, Alphonsine attended the parish grade school for eight years. She enrolled at the seminary of the Felician Sisters in Detroit from 1940-1944 and entered the Congregation of the Felician Sisters following graduation on June 11, 1944. Invested with the habit on Aug. 11, 1945, she received the religious name, Sister Mary Elise. She made her first profession of vows the following year, and six years later, on Aug. 12, 1952, professed perpetual vows in the Congregation. Sister Mary had a B.A. from Madonna (College) University and a M.A. in education from Wayne State University, Detroit. Her teaching career took her to the following schools: Queen of Apostles, Hamtramck; Resurrection, Holy Ghost, St. Casimir, Immaculate Conception, St. Stanislaus and Our Lady Help of Christians in Detroit; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Wyandotte; St. Adalbert, South Bend, Ind.; St. Stanislaus, Dorr; St. Anthony, St. Adalbert and St. Stanislaus, Toledo, Ohio; St. Mary, Alpena; St. Therese, Wayland; St. Damian, Westland; St. Stanislaus, Bay City and St. Valentine, Kawkawlin.
Sister Elise was both teacher and principal at St. Stanislaus, Toledo and St. Therese, Wayland, and principal at St. Stanislaus, Bay City and St. Valentine, Kawkawlin, a position she held for more than 17 years.
In 2002, Sister Mary Elise took up residence at St. Joseph Home, Jackson where her ministry encompassed that of treasurer, assisting with the child care center and retreats.
In January 2015, increasing medical problems resulted in a permanent transfer to St. Joseph Care Center Convent.
In the early hours of Wed., March 2, 2016, at 3:45 a.m., Sister Elise slipped peacefully into God’s eternal embrace. St. Joseph, her special patron, no doubt was there when she journeyed to the Lord whom she so faithfully served for 90 years, 71 in religious life. Sister Mary Elise is survived by a brother-in-law, Ed Shereda, nieces and nephews.
March 5, 2016, the Morning Prayer Service began at 10 a.m. The Mass of Resurrection followed at 10:30 a.m. and was celebrated by Farther Noel Danielewicz, OFM, Conv., who was directing the annual retreat for the sisters. Services were in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters Central Convent, Livonia, Mich. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Mich.
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