Sr. Barbara Ficenec, N.D.

Sr. Barbara Ficenec, N.D.

Jul 25, 1928 – Jan 23, 2018

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Marie Ficenec; brothers: Joseph, Francis, Father Leonard, Carl and Don; sister, Beatrice Ficenec.  She is survived by her brother, Anthony Ficenec; sister, Mildred Cheney (Ed), both of Omaha; sister-in-law, Helene (+Don) Ficenec; many nieces and nephews; and the Notre Dame Sisters.

Donation of body to Creighton School of Medicine.  MEMORIAL SERVICE/Memory Sharing will be on Sunday, Feb. 4th at 12:30pm at the Notre Dame Chapel, 3501 State St., followed by MEMORIAL MASS at 1pm.

Memorials are suggested to the Notre Dame Sisters.

 

 

22 Comments

  • Judith M Campbell Posted January 26, 2018 10:49 pm

    My deepest condolences and sympathies to Sister Barbara’s family and to the Side of Notre Dame on the passing of this lovely lady and servant of God. She was a wonderful teacher and I have fond memories. I don’t know of any of her students who didn’t think highly of her. She and I shared a birthday. Eternal rest grant unto her. May her soul rest in everlasting peace and happiness in the favor of God’s light. Judith Votrobek Campbell (NDA ’67)

  • Kathy Watson Posted January 27, 2018 12:54 pm

    Such a sweet, caring, funny lady. I will miss her terribly. Sympathy to her family.

  • Larry Sterbick Posted January 27, 2018 1:06 pm

    I knew St. Barb from my years at Bennington High School, we have always stayed in touch. She was a blessing to many people, but to me was my own connection with God. She had such great faith and lived it in her daily life! Sr. Barb lived a life for others, always there for help in any way she could! She is with our Lord. A true definition of love and faith!

  • Ronald B King, Jr. Posted January 27, 2018 4:56 pm

    What a wonderful woman of God! She was a terrific high school counselor (shepherd) and always looked out for the kids (flock). I am pleased to know — beyond the shadow of a doubt — that she is with God in Heaven!

  • Rhonda (Zaruba) Robinson Posted January 27, 2018 6:14 pm

    Sr. Barb was a blessing at Bennington High School. She was full of positive thoughts and smiles and helping me ok with my Catholic faith at School . She always supported my perfectionist with white-out Bottles. LOL. Love u and thanks for all the memories at BHS!

  • Elisa Deer Posted January 28, 2018 12:25 am

    Sister Barb will be missed, but I know she is on the everlasting journey with God and is at peace. I knew her from BHS. She had so much patience and tolerance, something to be admired. RIP Sister Barb, I will miss you!

  • Ken Logan Posted January 28, 2018 5:56 am

    I was blessed to have known Sr. Barb as a student at Bennington. She helped me with my college search and taught us Latin, one of which I’m forever grateful. But more importantly, she showed me what a joyful servant of the Lord looks like, which has profoundly influenced my life.

  • Ron Pojar Posted January 28, 2018 1:31 pm

    I didn’t meet Sister Barb until my junior year. She continual encouraged me to go to college. I always thought of her when I decided to join the Coast Guard instead. Many, many years later after enrolling in my first college, I quietly thanked her and thought to myself, “Yep, she was right”. God no doubt has a special spot ready for this wonderful lady.

  • Gordon Boe Posted January 28, 2018 4:52 pm

    Sister Barb was much loved by the students and teachers at Bennington. She was absolutely selfless and had an infinite supply of patience, kindness and compassion. She was a favorite of my three daughters who often stopped by her office after school for a little visit and maybe some candy too. She always made time for them. She was a wonderful woman, truly a saint.

  • Danny Ward Posted January 28, 2018 6:36 pm

    You are truly an angel. There are many thousands of people that are better off because of you! May you enjoy your well deserved place in heaven.

  • Randy King Posted January 28, 2018 10:25 pm

    Sister Barb gave me great guidance. Sad to hear of her passing.

  • Shari (Dreessen) Griffin Posted January 29, 2018 1:19 pm

    Oh how the world will miss this earthly angel. She helped SO many people through SO many different circumstances. She always had a shoulder to lean on and a hug to give. I don’t know what I would have done without her in my high school years in Bennington. She always appreciated my voice and could always count on her to be in the audience clapping. I’m so glad we recently reconnected and I will always cherish the special gift she gave to me on graduation. God bless you Sr. Barb. We’ll miss you!

  • Connie (Blazek) Wickham Posted January 29, 2018 2:17 pm

    Sr. Barb will forever be in my heart. I remember going on a retreat with her during high school, and she arranged for our parents to write us letters of love and encouragement. Somehow, the message didn’t make it to my mom, so Sr. Barb wrote one to me. Her kindness and empathy for others is something I have tried to emulate. Her love of teaching children inspired me to get several degrees and to become a teacher. I had the wonderful opportunity to run into her a few years ago at a Mass. It was by fate that I was there – as I am not Catholic. She looked at me and I looked at her and we immediately hugged. May you rest in peace, Sister Barb, knowing that you changed the world, one child at a time.

  • Kevin and Mary Duffy Posted January 29, 2018 2:51 pm

    Sr. Barbara was a wonderful teacher, a God-fearing woman and truly a saint. I first met her at Assumption School. She taught 8th grade and I was in first grade at the timeI met her. What a gentle sister she was. I was so glad when I attended Notre Dame Academy and was re acquainted with her. She would always make time for her students. She was my Latin teacher but also a wonderful counselor. I was thrilled to share a birthday with her. What a wonderful example of a joyful servant of Jesus and His Blessed Mother. I know that St. Peter is greeting her with “Well done, good and faithful servant.” RIP, Sr Barbara.

    Mary Buglewicz Duffy NDA ’66

    • PB Posted January 31, 2018 3:32 pm

      MFBD, thank you for the remembrance. Had forgotten that Barb taught Latin.

  • Cynthia Musel Posted January 30, 2018 4:06 pm

    Sr. Barb touch my life in so many ways all of my years at Bennington School Kindergarten thru graduation. She generously gave her love, knowledge and guidance to all of the students lives she touched while at BHS. After my brother graduated in May, my mother and I were in a tragic car accident in June which my Mother passed away. When she would come to my father’s service station to get her car fixed, she always had a hug and inquired if I needed anything or just to talk to keep my goals in focus sonce she knew what an extremely hard time I was having dealing with my grief even years after the accident. Ten years after graduating she helped guide me to look into continuing my schooling. Our Lord and Savior sent us a saint of an angel to leave a positive impact on us children that got to be part of her life. Sr. Barb may you rest peacefully in God’s beautiful garden. Many thanks to God to send us such a gracious lady.

  • 8th Grade Class of 1957 Posted January 31, 2018 12:43 pm

    Sr. Barbara, 61 years ago you were a great, caring and loving teacher to us at Assumption School in South Omaha.

  • Carol Ponec-Nemec Posted January 31, 2018 3:57 pm

    In the fall of 1954, I was a member of one Sister Barbara’s early teaching assignments, perhaps even her first, at Assumption Grade School, Omaha, Nebraska.

    Sister Barbara taught a combined class of 22 (8th grade) and 26 (7th grade) students. I was fortunate to be in the 8th grade class and graduated in June 1955. Sister was a wonderful teacher. It has always been nice to see and visit with her throughout the years.

    • PB Posted February 1, 2018 10:02 pm

      Carol, thank you for the kind thoughts. Please say hello to Joe the elder and young Joe.

  • Shelly Posted February 1, 2018 11:13 pm

    Years ago when I was studying catechism, Sister Barbara eagerly stepped up and said she wanted to be my sponsor when I came into full communion with the Catholic Church. She took the Godmother/Goddaughter relationship very much to heart as did I. Sister made sure I had a picture of Jesus, which hangs in my room to this day. It is the first thing I see each morning and the last thing I see at night. Sister Barb also seen to it that I had a rosary, and that I learned all the necessary prayers. I have many fond memories of joining Sister Barbara and the other Sisters for Mass in the chapel. She shared her faith, and her love for God so freely. I will always treasure and forever be grateful that she shared that with me. Until we meet again.

  • Susan Sobotka Wardell Posted February 17, 2018 11:36 pm

    I had the privilege of knowing this lovely, dear lady when I was teaching in the Bennington, NE public schools ages ago. She was a caring, delightful and dedicated individual who befriended all who came to know her well or even just briefly. She always found the best in everyone – students, teachers, and administrators – and always strove to lighten our loads and our hearts. RIP, Sister Barb, you are now among the angels in Heaven.

  • Colleen Smith Posted February 22, 2018 7:41 pm

    I can’t begin to express the loss I feel. Sr. Barb was obviously everything these other people have expressed. But for me, it’s the loss of a very dear friend. She is and will be sorely missed. She is definitely an angel who has been called home.

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