Galazin

Sister Sandra Ann Galazin, M.M.

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Sister Sandra Ann Galazin, M.M., a social worker who served in Hawaii, died Sept. 26 at Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining. She was 71.

She was first assigned to Honolulu in 1969. She taught language arts in the Maryknoll grade school in Punahou before focusing her ministry on peace activism and social justice. She worked at the Pastoral Counseling Service in Honolulu, where she coordinated a crisis intervention program and was a counselor for residents of a low-income housing community, 1970-1972. She was on the staff of a social-services organization serving youth, adults and families, 1973-1975.

In 1975, she joined the staff of Catholic Social Services working as a caseworker and coordinator for a program helping to resettle Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian refugees. She also served with the Diocese of Honolulu as a consultant for a social issues program.

From 1978 to 1985, she worked with Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, patients.

In 1985, she returned to Maryknoll, where served as director for the Maryknoll Sisters Office for Social Concerns, 1985-1989, and manager of the congregation’s communications office, 1989-1993. She went back to Hawaii in 1994, serving five years as home visitor coordinator for a program working to prevent child abuse. During her last 12 years in Hawaii, she worked for Catholic Charities as program director for families with infants at risk. She returned to Maryknoll in 2012.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., she entered Maryknoll in 1968 and made final vows in 1976. She held a bachelor’s degree from Misericordia College and a master’s in social work from the University of Hawaii.

A sister, Nancy Orlowski, and a brother, John, survive her.

A Memorial Mass was offered Oct. 31 in Annunciation Chapel at the Maryknoll Center. She donated her body to the New York Medical School.

Sister Sandra Ann Galazin, M.M.