Sister Hedwig Owsiak, O.S.U., died Aug. 16 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, Patchogue, L.I. She was 77.

Born in Norwich, Conn., she entered the Congregation of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk in 1956 and professed her final vows six years later. She received a bachelor of science degree in education, a master’s in philosophy from St. John’s University and a diploma from Lumen Vitae in Brussels, Belgium.

She began her career teaching at Our Lady of Grace, Howard Beach; St. William the Abbott, Seaford, L.I.; and St. Maurice, Stamford, Conn., before beginning as an adjunct lecturer of philosophy at St. John’s University in 1966.

In 1969, she became the coordinator of parent and sacrament formation for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, serving there for five years. From 1971 to 1974, she was an adjunct lecturer of catechetical theology at Cathedral College, Douglaston.

In 1975 she served as provincial of the U.S. Province before serving 18 years as assistant and general superior in the Ursuline congregational government in Belgium. From 1999 to 2003, she served at the Sophia Center in Cleveland.

She retired from active ministry in 2004 and moved to St. Ursula Center, Blue Point, L.I.

Following a funeral Mass at the St. Ursula Center Chapel, internment took place at the cemetery of the Ursuline Sisters in Blue Point.