06/19/2026
Sister Felice, a beloved Sister of Mercy who spent many years with us here at St. Patrick, passed away last Sunday evening. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated tomorrow, June 20, at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse in Erie at 10:00 a.m. with visitation today and from 9:00 a.m. until the Mass time on Saturday.
Song of Farewell:
Come her aid, O saints of God;
Come meet her, angels of the Lord.
Receive her soul, O holy ones;
Present her now to God, Most High.
May Christ, who called you, take you home,
And angels lead you to Abraham.
Receive her soul, O holy ones;
Present her now to God, Most High.
Give her eternal rest, O Lord,
And may your light shine upon her.
Receive her soul, O holy ones;
Present her now to God, Most High.
I know that my Redeemer lives;
On the last day I shall rise again.
Receive her soul, O holy ones;
Present her now to God, Most High.
Eternal Rest grant unto her O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace!
Obituary:
Sister Mary Felice Duska, RSM, died on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse in Erie, Pennsylvania.
She was in the 74th year of her religious life. Born on December 31, 1934, in Erie, she was the daughter of the late Felix and Josephine S. (Ditrich) Duska. She was baptized in Holy Family Church in Erie and entered the Sisters of Mercy on August 15, 1952, in Titusville, PA, where she professed her perpetual vows on July 31, 1958.
Sr. Felice graduated from Mercyhurst Seminary prior to the high school’s relocation and renaming to Mercyhurst Preparatory School. Both her Bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst College (University) and her Master’s degree from Duquesne University were in Music Education.
Her teaching began in the classrooms of St. Catherine, DuBois; St. Titus, Titusville; and St. Michael, Greenville. Soon she started teaching piano full-time for nearly 40 years, in these Catholic diocesan schools as well as in St. Justin, Pittsburgh, and St. Patrick, Franklin.
Sr. Felice’s talents for leadership and administration, and for financial stewardship and planning were recognized early in her religious life. For 13 years, she served on the Leadership Team of the Erie Sisters of Mercy. Over the years, she was actively engaged on six boards of trustees for Sisters of Mercy ministries in education and healthcare and on several Catholic diocesan committees. She served on the boards of the Erie Mercy Associates and Mercy Volunteer Corps in their formative years.
In 1994, Sr. Felice transitioned into the housing ministry at Mercy Terrace Apartments in Erie. Shortly, she became its Executive Director, a position she attended to with love, faith and expertise for 26 years until her retirement 2020.
Her dedication to multiple services in the Mercy community and Catholic church brought her the recognition of the Serra Club for Outstanding Religious of the Year in 2013 and with the Distinguished Alumna Award for Service from Mercyhurst Preparatory School in 2016.
Not one to retire, in her later years she continued to serve on the boards of her alma mater Mercyhurst Prep and of Mercy Hilltop Center. She always came to the aid of her Mercy community and family in any way possible. For years, until late this spring, she directed the Sisters’ choir at the Motherhouse.
Her religious community, her Sister-in-law Brenda Duska of Villanova, PA, seven nephews and nieces and their families survive her. In addition to her parents, her brother Ronald Duska, and sister-in-law, Barbara Stanopewicz Duska, preceded her in death.
Friends may call at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse, 444 East Grandview Blvd. on Friday, June 19, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-8:00 p.m. A vigil service will be held there on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. Visiting will also be held at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 20, in the Sisters of Mercy Chapel. The Rite of Committal will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Erie Sisters of Mercy Ministries in the name of Sister Mary Felice.
Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pine Branch, 845 E 38th St, Erie, PA 16504, is handling the arrangements.
