Sister Justina Tsoku served at schools and senior care facilities

Servant of Mary Sister Justina Tsoku, whose 64 years of religious life included 34 years of service in Omaha, died March 15 in Omaha. She was 90.

A funeral Mass was held March 18 at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel at the order’s motherhouse in Omaha, with interment in the motherhouse cemetery.

A native of Heidelberg, South Africa, Sister Justina entered religious life in 1947, professed first vows in 1950 and final vows in 1960.

She received a bachelor of arts degree in social sciences from Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in religious studies at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

From 1954 to 1984, Sister Justina served as a teacher and principal at schools in Zululand, South Africa, and Swaziland (now Eswatini).

She came to Omaha in 1984, serving five years as a teacher at Marian High School, then one year at the former Cathedral High School. She also was a part-time tutor at Metropolitan Community College from 1990 to 1991.

From 1992 to 1994, Sister Justina worked at commercial businesses in Omaha before beginning a ministry of service to hospitalized and homebound seniors.

She served in 1995 at Bergan Mercy Care Center, from 1995 to 1998 with Alegent Home Health Care, during 1999 with Home Instead Senior Care, from 1999 to 2000 at New Cassel Retirement Center, and from 2000 to 2002 at Skyline Retirement Home, all in Omaha.

Sister Justina retired in 2003 and served from 2006 to 2011 as a volunteer at Skyline Retirement Home. She took part in prayer ministry until her death.