Sr. SiderewiczA Mass of Resurrection for Sister Barbara Siderewicz, OSF, was celebrated on April 4 at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in Shrewsbury. Sister Barbara died March 23. She was 74 years old and a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 54 years.
Barbara Ann Siderewicz was born on June 10, 1949, the eldest of 12 children born to Cecilia and Frank Siderewicz in Omaha, Nebraska. Her faith was nurtured by her family and her home parish and elementary school, St. Francis of Assisi. Drawn to serving others through volunteering at the Red Cross and the library, Sister Barbara entered the Franciscan Sisters in 1967, professed her first vows in 1970 and made the profession of her final vows in 1973.
Sister Barbara’s ministry in Catholic education was influenced by her penchant for numbers and logic. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Marillac College in 1973 and taught mathematics and science to upper-grade students. Following her desire to be an advocate for students and families, Sister Barbara earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Sister Barbara ministered in the Archdiocese of St Louis as an educator at Our Lady of Guadalupe School (1970-72) and St. Casimir School (1973-79). She was an administrator at St. Casimir School (1979-81), Our Lady of Guadalupe School (1981-85), St. Pius X School (1985-86), Sts. Joachim and Ann School (1991-97), and St. Pius V School (1997-2003). Sister Barbara also was the principal at St. Matthew School in Oak Creek, Wisconsin (1986-1991) and a teacher at Queen of Peace School in Belleville, Illinois (2003-2005).
In 2005, Sister Barbara was elected to the Leadership Team of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and also assumed the duties of secretary general for her community. She completed these community ministries in 2010 and ministered as a PSR teacher at Immacolata Parish from 2011-15. In 2012, Sister Barbara began her ministry as executive assistant for the Congregational Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, a position she held until 2023.
Sister Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers David, Raymond and Joseph. She is survived by her siblings Lorraine, Ann, Theresa, Mary, Pauline, Rose, Stanley and George.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.