Dominican Sister of Peace Arleen Kisiel, OP, (75), of Cleveland, OH, died on October 6, 2023, at Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH.
Arleen was born to Adelle Kaniecki and Louis Kisiel on November 13, 1947. She entered the congregation in 1966 and has been professed for over 57 years.
Sr. Arleen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, OH, and her MA in counseling from the University of Dayton.
She taught in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan and practiced counseling in Canada and New York. She served as the first Director of the Martin de Porres Center, which was founded by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs. She worked closely with the Columbus Diocesan Office of Black Catholics to develop programs for the Congregation. She also served on the leadership team of the Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs.
In her preaching at the funeral Sr. Cathy Arnold reminded us that, “Anyone who knows Arleen knows how much she appreciated art and beauty. And she communicated to those she met, the beauty and goodness of their own being. Over the years, she communicated this in her many roles – from teaching to counseling to elected leadership to formation to Director of the Martin de Porres Center, to mission group coordinator, to pastoral care at Mohun. She incarnated God’s life and love in her own way in this world.”
She was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Adelle Kaniecki Kisiel. She is survived by her brother Ken Kisiel, and her sisters Jan Kisiel and Shelly Mack.
A Vigil of Remembrance Service and Wake were held on October 19, 2023, at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel, Columbus, OH.
The prayer service followed on October 20, 2023. Burial at St. Joseph Cemetery by Egan Ryan Funeral Home will be at a later date.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Arleen’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or submitted securely at oppeace.org.
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