Antoinette Kostelnik, SCN, 98, was born in Trauger, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 4, 1925, to Slovak immigrants Michael and Anna Uhrin Kostelnik. Baptized at St. Florian’s Church in United, she was one of ten siblings consisting of three boys and seven girls. Four of the girls were eventually called to become Vincentian Sisters of Charity — Sisters Canice (Veronica), John Gabriel (Ann), Antoinette (Bernadette) and Seraphine (Helen). Sister Antoinette, the last of the Kostelnik religious sisters, died on Sept. 12, 2023, at Vincentian Home in McCandless, Pennsylvania.
Antoinette attended Vincentian High School as an Aspirant and then entered the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (VSC) as a candidate in 1942, making her perpetual vows on Aug. 8, 1952. In 2008, she transferred her vows when the Vincentian Sisters of Charity merged with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Sister Antoinette wanted to be a Sister and teacher from early childhood. She received her B.Ed. from Duquesne University and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. Her Ministry began as a teacher in several elementary schools in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1964, she began to teach Religion at Boyle High School and remained there for 14 years. Returning to her Alma Mater in 1978, Sister Antoinette continued to teach Religion to students at Vincentian Academy until her retirement from teaching in 2012. She also served as the Director of Ongoing Formation for the Vincentian Sisters from 1983 to 1987 while she continued to teach.
In October 2012, Sister Antoinette became a resident of Lourdes Hall at St. Louise Convent (the former Vincentian Motherhouse) and served as an Apostolate of Prayer. She also participated as an informal advisor to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates in Pittsburgh, helping to strengthen their commitment to the charism of Charity. When the convent was closed in August 2020, Sister Antoinette became a resident of Vincentian Home until her death on Sept. 12, 2023.
She is survived by her remaining sisters, Catherine and Margaret, along with many nieces and nephews, as well as her religious community, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at St. Louise Convent, Sacred Heart Chapel, 8200 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
- Viewing at 9:00 a.m.
- Wake at 10:00 a.m.
- Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.
- Burial to follow in the Sisters’ Cemetery
Memorials may be made to Office of Mission Advancement; P.O. Box 9; Nazareth, Kentucky 40048.
Sister Antionette was my Prayer and Support Sister for many, many years. Her prayers and support were very, very special.
May God grant you, Sister Antionette, a great reward in Heaven and still keep praying for me.
Vincentian alumni, ’85. I gave Sister a run for her money, so to speak, as an inquisitive religion student. One day, I must have asked one too many questions, seriously questioning our religion, and she responded in frustration while wringing her hands, “You just have to have faith!” Pretty much summed it up! Our faith cannot be explained logically. We live it by experiencing life. God love her! As a teenager, I didn’t appreciate her. As an adult, her words, “You just have to have faith!” resonates with me since in some ways, it’s just that simple and in other ways, I’ve learned that faith is a gift and my life experiences have been awe-inspiring, giving me the opportunity to strengthen my faith. Thank you, Sister Antoinette for your patience, perseverance and faith. I’ve no doubt you are resting in peace. God bless!
Truly a woman of faith that had a positive impact Ron my children as her students at Vincentian Academy and guided us in love as parents.
We would meet weekly for prayer and Bible study for several years following Sr Antoinette’s retirement from teaching.
She loved visiting our home for dinner and the holidays with her biological sisters that also were like family to us ( Sr. Seraphim and Sr John Gabriel)
She truly will be missed but we know looking over our family. ❤️🙏🏻