Sister Mary Avsec, SND 70 Year Jubilee
October 5, 2025
Sister Mary Avsec
Mary Louise Avsec was born as the second of three children into the family of the late William and late Mary (nee Hocevar) Avsec household. The family originally resided off Luther Avenue and moved to Bonna Avenue in the 1940s. Mary Louise attended and was graduated from, respectfully, St. Vitus Elementary School, Notre Dame Academy and then St. John College. In Feb 1953 she responded to the call to enter into the community of the Sisters of Notre Dame. When she took her final vows, she took the name “Sister Mary Bernardine” (as was the custom pre-Vatican II).
Sister Mary’s primary focus and ministry for the next 40 years would be educating young children. In the city of Cleveland, she taught at St. Michael, St. Boniface, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Vitus Schools. She also taught at St. Michael (Independence), St. Gregory The Great (South Euclid), SS. Cyril and Methodius (Lakewood), and St. Mary (Avon). Sister Avsec then taught primary and intermediate age levels at St. Mary (Elyria), St. Helen (Newbury), and St. Justin Martyr (Eastlake). She was also an intermediate level teacher at Julie Billiart, a school for children with various types of learning disabilities in Lyndhurst, Ohio.
As she was concluding her teaching ministry, she then began minister for community service at the Provincial Center in Chardon, Ohio. She became a certified pastoral minister in the diocese of Cleveland; and for the past 25 or so years she has been the pastoral minister at her home parish of St. Vitus. In this capacity, Sister Avsec has cared for the elderly, visiting seniors, home bound, or those in an assisted living arrangement; and also, bereavement ministry to families who experience the loss of a loved one.
Sister Mary Avsec and Father John Retar
She has served as a member of the pastoral council, Conference of Older Adults in the diocese of Cleveland, a former board member of the Kovacic Recreation Center and a former board member of the then St. Clair Superior Coalition, now St. Clair Superior Development Corp. She has also been the spiritual directress of the Legion of Mary, conducted Marian devotions, Holy Hours, mini-retreats, faith inquiry class, and has faithfully served on the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, a ministry that requires one on one encounters as an apostolic mission to then ascertain basic material needs. Sister Avsec has also been inducted into the St. Vitus Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to Cleveland Woman Lisa Wong who was sworn in as the president of the Organization of Chinese Americans Cleveland Chapter on Saturday.
Margaret Wong, Mayor Frank Jackson, OCA National president Sharon Wong and
OCA Cleveland president Lisa Wong
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Honors 15 Nominees at Women of Distinction Event
Girl Scouts Women of Distinction
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) kicked off its National Volunteer Recruitment campaign, observed September 29 through October 5, 2013, by celebrating women who inspire, mentor and empower others.
The 15 nominees selected for his year’s Women of Distinction award were honored at a ceremony held Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Beachwood. Standing in for Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, Beverly Charles, a Senior Staffer and Senior Citizen Liaison, delivered the keynote speech. Sarah Lowry a northeast Ohio representative from State Senator Sherrod Brown’s office also presented each honoree with a letter of congratulations and a certificate.
“The women selected for this honor embody all that we promise to live by as Girl Scouts: to be honest and fair, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and committed to making the world a better place,” said Erine Bodo, a Girl Scout troop leader, 2012 Women of Distinction recipient, and Chairperson for the 2013 Women of Distinction event. “Their passions, commitments, and accomplishments make them positive role models who inspire girls to achieve their own goals and dreams.”
The Women of Distinction event is held annually in September with the purpose of recognizing women in northeast Ohio who have made a difference in the lives of others. These women represent a diversity of professional fields, personal characteristics, and life experiences. Their talents are broad and their impact far-reaching, whether they work directly with girls or support the Girl Scout Mission in other meaningful ways.
Liz Claman is the Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor of the Fox Business Network show Countdown to the Closing Bell. Clevelanders may remember Liz hosted the Morning Exchange at WEWS-TV Channel 5 in the early 1990's.
Liz was in town in October 2013 as a moderator at the Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit.
Liz Claman on stage at the Summit
Pioneering Cleveland Woman
Valarie J. McCall Elected NOACA Governing Board President for 2013
Valarie J. Mccall
At its meeting on Jan. 11, the Governing Board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) elected Valarie J. McCall, chief of government affairs for the City of Cleveland, as its Governing Board president for 2013. McCall is the first African-American female president in the history of the NOACA Governing Board.
McCall has served on NOACA’s Governing Board as the alternate for Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson since 2006. The agency, which conducts transportation and environmental planning for northeast Ohio, appoints board presidents to one-year terms.
“I am honored by this appointment,” McCall said. “It is a privilege to work with, and now lead, this group of dedicated individuals who work so hard to help improve northeast Ohio’s transportation system and natural environment.”
As Governing Board president, McCall plans to help NOACA create and implement a regional strategic plan for the agency. She also intends to engage board members more fully in NOACA activities and continue to build consensus among the group.
“Valarie is a real asset to NOACA,” said Grace Gallucci, NOACA executive director. “She understands regionalism and will bring unbounded energy to help us implement projects and plans that can improve the quality of life in northeast Ohio.”
McCall was named chief of government affairs by Mayor Jackson at the onset of his administration. She serves as the administration’s primary liaison to the state government, where she is the registered lobbyist for the city. She is also responsible for monitoring the Jackson administration’s appointments to internal and external boards and commissions, and for managing all of the City of Cleveland’s international programs, including International Sister City Agreements.
McCall is Mayor Jackson’s primary representative to several national organizations including the United States Conference of Mayors, National Conference of Black Mayors, National League of Cities and the National Black Caucus of Local and Elected Officials. In addition, she serves on the Boards of Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), and American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
Previously, McCall served as clerk of council, a position in which she streamlined the processing of legislation and reorganized the daily operations of Cleveland City Council to maximize office efficiency. Before that, she was Director of the Cleveland Empowerment Zone. In that role, she was responsible for a $200 million budget and supervised the distribution of funds for job training and placement programs, as well as for direct lending programs that assisted businesses in four targeted neighborhoods.
McCall is a resident of Cleveland and has completed many phases of her schooling within Cleveland’s realm; she holds a master of public administration, a bachelor’s degree in social work and an honorary doctor of public service degree from Cleveland State University.
Cleveland Woman Mariya Turk and the famous Luceafărul poem
Congratulations to Ashley Randolph the reigning Miss Cleveland Ohio Plus America.
Ashley is a Cleveland native,Cleveland Heights resident and graduate. She placed 2nd in the Miss Ohio Plus America pageant.
Ashley is looking for great service projects to get into and raise awareness for such as some of her personal favorites: Sickle
Cell, Lupus, Spina Bifida,HIV,and Asthma. Follow her at @MissClevePlus10
The Frances Kaszubski story. This Cleveland Woman Olympic athlete was told that female athletes could never have children! Read her story by Judge Diane Karpinski and see how times have changed for the better.
Sign up for our free eNewsletter sent about once every month with special offers, discounts, contests and more specifically for Cleveland area Women and Girls.
Home
Arts & Leisure
Cleveland Cooks Vol 3
