Sr. Josephine Helen Slabinski, SFCC

Sr. Josephine was preceded in death by her father, Victor Slabinski, mother, Alice Rustic Slabinski and siblings, Stanley Dyezewski, Lottie Slabinski Farrell, Mary Slabinski Hayes, Helen Slabinski (Sr. Marcella Slabinski, LSP), Stella Slabinski, John Slabinski and Walter Slabinski. She is survived by her nephews, Stanley Slabinski, Patrick Hayes, James Slabinski, John Slabinski and Joseph Dyezewski and niece, Marie Thomas. 

Josephine Helen was born on March 14, 1922, in Hudson, Pennsylvania. She entered religious life at age nineteen with the Roman Catholic order of nuns, Little Sisters of the Poor, in Germantown, Pennsylvania. She followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Helen (Sr. Marcella Slabinski), who was also a Catholic nun with the same order. Sr. Josephine received an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and worked as an LPN serving the elderly poor for many years. One of her early assignments was to serve as a nurse in France at the end of WWII. To be closer to family, Sr. Josephine transferred to a second order of nuns, Sisters for Christian Community. She remained an active, contributing member of the Florida region and the international assemblies of the order for the remainder of her life. In addition to nursing, Sr. Josephine founded Providence Family Day Care in Tampa to serve children and assist working families. She dedicated herself to nursing at Tampa Health Care Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and a healthcare agency. Sr. Josephine also provided private nursing care for a child with special needs for many years. 

Sr. Josephine was a cherished member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church serving as a Eucharistic Minister and “leader of song” at daily Mass. She was a light by her example of service, love for the Lord, and kindness to everyone. Sister’s family would like to offer a special thank you for care given by the St. Lawrence Angel Group and Marianna Kozlowska. 

Visitation will be on Monday, December 6, 2021, at the Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, FL 33614 from 5:00-8:00pm with a prayer service at 7:00pm.

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the Funeral Mass will be at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5223 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614 at 10:30AM with Interment at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610. A Reception to follow the burial will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church Higgins Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sr. Josephine’s name to the order of Mother Teresa: 

Missionaries of Charity 

335 East 145th Street 

Bronx, NY 10451