Helena Kowalska was born in what is now west-central Poland and was the third of 10 children. Before joining the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1925, she served as a housekeeper in three cities. In three of their homes, she served as a chef, gardener and porter. On October 5, 1938, in Krakow, Poland, Sister Maria Faustina died of tuberculosis. In 1993, Pope John Paul II beatified her and, seven years later, canonized her.