Sister Regina Marie Novacek

On October 16, 1919 Sister Regina Marie Novacek, OP, was born to Hedwig Tymick and Matthew Novacek on their farm in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. The youngest of five children, Mildred Hedwig had two brothers and two sisters. The family relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1926 and became members of St. Ignatius Parish in Highland Park where Mildred was taught by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. After graduating from parochial school she continued her Dominican education at Sacred Heart High School in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles. The seeds of her religious vocation were planted by her mother at the time of Sister's First Communion when she spoke to Mildred about giving herself to Jesus as He was giving Himself to her. She was later inspired by her teachers' dedication to prayer and their love for each other. Two years after graduating from Sacred Heart, Mildred entered the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose in 1941. Sister's education ministry was lived out in elementary and secondary schools in Los Angeles, Anaheim, and the Bay Area for 20 years. She was then called to twelve years in Congregational administration, after which she returned to the Congregation's resident schools as administrator and Director of Resident Students. In 2003 Sister retired to the Motherhouse where she devoted her energies to various internal community ministries. An amazing woman of God, her heart was ever with the poor and with children. Always gracious, loving, affirming and generous, Sister Regina Marie returned to her Beloved on May 16, 2007. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on May 23, 2017 at the Dominican Sisters' Motherhouse in Fremont, California with interment in God's Acre.