†Sister Emma Kulhanek, OP
Deceased
December 15, 1929 – December 26, 2024
Entered eternal life on December 26, 2024 at the age of 95 after 76 years of religious life. We commend Sister Emma to your prayers.
December 15, 1929 – December 26, 2024
Entered eternal life on December 26, 2024 at the age of 95 after 76 years of religious life. We commend Sister Emma to your prayers.
“You will keep her in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you.” ~ Isaiah 26: 3
This favorite scripture passage of Sister Emma Kulhanek is reflected in the calm and assured demeanor that was habitual with her.
Marie Theresa was born in Chesaning, Michigan, December 15, 1929, to Wenz and Emma Nietling Kulhanek. Her father immigrated to this country from Germany and her mother came from Ohio. She had two sisters, one older and one younger, and three brothers. Faith and family were very important to her, and she loved the beauty of nature.
Through grade 9, Marie attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chesaning where she was taught by Grand Rapids Dominicans. Then she attended Marywood as an aspirant, graduated from the Academy, and entered the postulancy in September 1947. At reception she took her mother’s name, Emma, which she kept for the rest of her life.
After profession, Sister Emma began a long career of teaching at SS. Peter and Paul, Saginaw; St. Francis, Traverse City; St. Mary, Muskegon; Marywood Academy (where she also served as aspirant mistress); St. Alphonsus and St. Andrew in Grand Rapids; and St. Joseph in Pewamo. At St. Alphonsus she was principal in a school with three classrooms for each grade level and 40-50 pupils in every classroom. At St. Andrew (1969-82) she coordinated staff, curriculum, and worked in the upper grades. She loved working in the urban area in a school with a diverse student body. She reflected: “It has been rewarding to have students return or write to say they were glad they were taught for the ‘future’—not just for the moment.”
Sister Emma earned both a B.A., with a history major, and an M.A. degree from Aquinas College. She also held certificates in theology and catechetics, and studied further at the University of Detroit, Loyola University in Chicago, Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Clark College, Iowa; Michigan State University and Boston College where she focused on education for disadvantaged students. After retiring from full-time work in the schools, Sr. Emma continued to hone her skills to work with elders. In the 1990s she attended the Colorado Center for Healing Touch and later earned a certificate from the Grand Rapids Gerontology Network.
In the 1990s Sister Emma devoted half time to teaching junior high at St. Andrew and the other half to pastoral care to the elderly at Northview Manor. The families of those she served who were terminally ill expressed deep gratitude for her presence with their loved ones.
Sister Emma kept in touch with former students, who wrote to her after as many as 40 years to thank her for her influence in their lives. In 1997 she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Diocese of Grand Rapids for 47 years of dedication to Catholic Education. She retired from St. Andrew in 1998 and from Northview Manor in 2006. In retirement she continued serving as a pastoral visitor at Marywood Health Center, where she listened, read, and wrote for the residents.
In addition to her work in education and social outreach, Sister Emma advocated open housing, voter registration, Groundwork, and the NAACP.
She enjoyed reading, walking, crocheting, card games, and visiting with friends both old and new. Best of all she loved “watching the light go on” in a student who had been struggling to learn something new or difficult.
Her travels took her to all parts of the United States as well as sites abroad including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Rome.
At the time of her Golden Jubilee, Sister Emma selected a saying that describes her well: “In stillness and in quiet confidence is my strength.”
In a life focused on God, Sr. Emma found quiet confidence until that moment when she joined her beloved and rests now in perfect peace.
Sr. Emma is survived by her sisters-in-law Linda Kulhanek and, Diane Kulhanek, both of Chesaning, MI; nieces, nephews; many friends and members of her Dominican Community.