Sister Louise Kovalovsky

We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved

Sister Louise Kovalovsky

who departed this life on August 22, 2012

in the fiftieth year of her religious life

Age: 72 years, 7 months, 14 days

Resurrection Service: Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 4 p.m.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: Viewing in the Community Room at Providence Heights on Friday, August 24, 2012 from 6:30-9 p.m. and on Saturday, August 25 from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wake Service in the Community Room on Friday, August 24 at 7 p.m. Mass of Resurrection on Saturday, August 25 at 4 p.m. in the Mother of Divine Providence Chapel at Providence Heights.

God is Infinite Beauty. Those who create beauty do the work of God. Sister Louise Kovalovsky did just exactly that for a lifetime.

Louise was born in McKees Rocks, the daughter of Frank and Marie Kovalovsky. Louise and Fran (Hays) and Arlene (Buettner) were a trio of happy sisters. Louise was educated by the Sisters of Divine Providence at St. Mary's High School, where her ability to play the piano was put to good use, and where she was fortunate to have a wonderful art teacher.

There are a number of parallels between Louise and her patron, Louise de Marillac (for about six years, Louise was known as Sister De Marillac). Louise de Marillac was schooled and was introduced to the arts and humanities, as well as to a deep spiritual life. Our Louise continued her study of art after high school graduation, but when she entered the Congregation, she studied history, prepared to be a history teacher, and allowed her spirit to be nurtured.

When Louise de Marillac made application to the Capuchin nuns, but was refused admission, her spiritual director’s prophetic response to her was that God had “other plans” for her. Our Louise, through her whole life, cooperated with the “other plans” that the God of Providence, the God of infinite possibilities, had for her. After years as teacher, school principal, director of religious education, teacher at the San Juan Art Center at Artes del Valle, in Center, Colorado, co-director of the Provincial House, and campus minister at La Roche College, she pursued her dream and earned a master’s degree in art.

In the case of Louise de Marillac, those “other plans” came to fruition when she met Vincent de Paul. He recognized her personal gifts and understood her desire for spiritual direction. He guided her to greater balance in a life of moderation, peace and calm. Who was more calm and balanced than our Louise?

Eventually, Louise de Marillac understood that it was time to intensify her ministry with poor and needy persons, while still maintaining a deep spiritual life. Drawn to focus on mission, she communicated this aspiration to Vincent. Together, they founded the Daughters of Charity. Our Louise, the artist, ministered at the Three Hills Ministry, at Sisters’ Place, and at the Providence Family Support Center. Then, as Archivist at La Roche College, Louise was able to devote herself to her passion for history, both of our community and of La Roche, and to present it in a beautiful way.

All this time, she was “doing art” full time, reflecting her own beauty, and Infinite Beauty, in music and dance, as well as the visual arts and the spoken word. May we all be better people because of Louise, because of her willingness to follow the God of Providence; may we all be better people because of her peaceful and calm presence.

Birthday: January 8

Written by Sister Mary Traupman

If you would like to make a gift to the Sisters of Divine Providence in memory of Sister Louise, visit our donation page.