Sister Elizabeth Marie Bumbak, MM

Born: August 7, 1915
Entered: December 7, 1931
Died: August 11, 1941

Another Maryknoller has finished her course, a weary, painful journey which we feel must have led straight to the feet of Christ, for it was trod by one borne down with suffering yet excited by loving union of her anguish with the torments of our Crucified Lord.

The news of Sister Elizabeth Marie’s death on August 11th, 1941, was not a surprise to you, I am sure. Our amazement was that she lived so long in a condition that was close to death for the past year.

Sister Elizabeth Marie was little more than a child when she first wrote to us, asking if she might not come to Maryknoll. We told her to wait and if her interest persisted, we would consider her application later. She wrote to us frequently, and when she was sixteen years old, she arrived at Maryknoll.

She was always an earnest, fervent Sister, most generous and zealous, and ambitious to improve herself that she might do more for souls.

God, however, did not require activity from her, but chose her for the apostolate of suffering, which she accepted and embraced when she knew there was no hope for recovery. Like all such patients, she had brave dreams of restoration to health and a vigorous hardy life on the missions. For a time when suffering was intense and she felt lost in such a sea of misery, she underwent great spiritual trials, which, however, passed and left her faith stronger and her trust in God’s will for her more perfect and joyous.

She offered her pains for all of us and our works, and I am sure we have been blessed through them.

I know you will remember her soul generously. May she and all our dear ones gone before, rest in peace!