Counting Her Blessings By S. Joan Elizabeth Cook
S.
Roslyn (Roz) Hafertepe loves to count the blessings she has received throughout her entire life. She credits her parents for instilling in her the values she holds dear: living simply, gathering people together for community-building; serving other people’s needs; fixing things, especially with wood; and caring for our Earth. In fact, all of us SCs have been blessed because Roz has shared those blessings with us throughout her community life.
were making something of their life, and I thought, ‘What am I doing?’” She realized God was nudging her toward the Sisters of Charity. In September 1950, Roz entered the Community, and brought with her the values she had learned throughout her childhood and early adulthood. Just two months later, in November, her brother Edward was drafted into the Army and her parents’ home was suddenly an empty nest. Roz’s mother prayed that he would be safe; when his leg was seriously injured in an accident, her mother’s prayers were answered: he returned home. Ed eventually married, and he and his wife, Alice, had seven children. Once again the family home was the gathering place for relatives and family friends.
During her growing-up years, Roz met members of several women’s congregations. Her childhood parish and school was St. Bonaventure. Saint Bonaventure was a feeder school for Mother of Mercy High School, S. Roslyn Hafertepe served as the Community’s which Roz attended even though executive treasurer from 1975 to 1983 and again Seton was only a few blocks from her from 1987 until 2000. home. In high school Roz became Roz’s first mission was at Good Samaritan Hospital, acquainted with the Dominicans of the Sick Poor when she Dayton, in cost accounting. She laughs, recalling her early helped organize the Dominicanettes, who served the local experience with technology. The accounting office used community under the Dominicans’ direction. In addition, National Cash Register machines. NCR headquarters were she and her good friend Charlotte worked in the dietary in Dayton, with technical assistance just a phone call away. department at St. Francis Hospital with the Oldenburg Once, when Roz had tried unsuccessfully to fix a machine, Franciscans. Then Charlotte, who attended Seton High the NCR technician recommended that she plug it in! School and knew the Sisters of Charity, arranged for them to She also served in finance at Good Sam, Cincinnati; work in the office at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati. St. Joseph Hospital, Albuquerque; and St. Joseph Hospital, At Good Sam, two Sisters in particular, Sisters Marie Theresa Mount Clemens, Michigan. Each new assignment Seidman and Helen Regina Kuss, made a strong impression challenged her to learn new skills in accounting, then as on her. Roz explains, “They were in touch with this world, head of accounting, Chief Financial Officer, and assistant but they were not of this world. It was sort of that American administrator. During that time she earned a Bachelor’s spirit within them. They were well aware of the realities Degree in Business at the College of Mount St. Joseph and around them, and they were also fun people. They enjoyed a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration at Xavier life, but, believe me, what we did was serious business, and we University, Cincinnati. needed to do it right. That contact started Roz’s connection These experiences gave her valuable opportunities to with the Sisters of Charity and her long association with practice the lessons she had learned from her parents: to live Good Sam. simply, to share what we have with those who have less than Roz worked for five years at Good Sam, during which we do, to care for our Earth, and to bring people together many of her friends were being drafted into the U.S. Army for the sake of friendship and service, especially to those who while she was enjoying a busy social life. She reflects, “They are less able to deal with political and economic systems. 16
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