w e N ^ Volume 7, No. 2
Extending the Mission of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and College into the 21st Century www.ursulinesmsj.org/alumnae
Fall 2011
Mount Saint Joseph gym 50 years old
Gym provided a place for fun and magical moments
In 1961, Mount Saint Joseph Academy added something no school would think of doing without today – a gymnasium. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, alumnae discussed some of their favorite memories of the gym, including slumber parties and roller skating. “I remember going to the gym to ‘register’ the day I arrived as a boarder,” said Mary Costello A’66. “I remember attending plays in the gym – both MSJ plays and also ones put on by visitors. I remember PE classes and roller skating. Graduation is another memory, I remember going up on the stage and getting my diploma. But there are two events that stand out. “The first is my senior class trip. The only weekend available was the weekend of the music recital and Sister Francesca decided that the voice students could not go away then. We had a slumber party in the gym. All the day students were invited to spend the night and most of us stayed up most of the night.” The other memorable event was spread out over a few evenings, Costello said. “When the Mass changes were ready to be implemented after Vatican II, everyone at the Mount assembled in the gym and Monsignor Thompson led us through just what would be happening. We practiced! He also gave explanations about the changes.” Stephanie Warren A’73 said she always considered the Mount her second home, even though she only lived about 3 miles away. “The gym was one of my favorite spaces during high school. I’ve always enjoyed athletics, particularly basketball, and during my Academy years we had very competitive intramural basketball teams,” she said. “Since the day students didn’t eat lunch in the dining hall with the borders, I took mine each day and went to the gym. I’d practice my shooting and dribbling
along with eating my lunch. It was quiet and peaceful and provided good physical activity each day. I liked to use the upstairs above the gym stage as a hiding place when I needed to be alone, too. It was a comforting place to be.” She also remembers every Honor Society induction ceremony held in the gym. “I was so proud for my family to share this event with me at the end of my freshman year and each subsequent year,” Warren said. “It was always a moving moment when the lights would be turned off and our candles lit while we sang, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by Rodgers and Hammerstein.” Ann Jenkins Caspar A’62 was among the first graduating class to use the gym, but she said most of her memories came when she was a young sister in the Continued on page 6
Please join us for the Alumnae Memorial Mass on Nov. 5 The annual Alumnae Memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. at the Mount Saint Joseph Motherhouse Chapel. The presider will be Msgr. Bernard Powers. This Mass is celebrated in remembrance of all deceased classmates, faculty, family and friends of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Junior College. Mass will be followed by dinner with the Ursuline Sisters. Please let us know of any alumnae who passed away in the past 12 months. An updated memorial list will be posted on our website (ursulinesmsj.org). Please RSVP for the Mass/dinner by Oct. 28. Contact Marian Bennett at 270-229-2006 or e-mail alumnae.msj@maplemount.org.
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The NEW Mount
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Fall 2011
From Your President
Join alums on Facebook! Hey, Mount Girls! Back in April, Tina Weber Smith A’74 started a “MSJ GIRLS” page on Facebook – and it took off like wildfire. It has been so much fun reconnecting with Mount Girls (as in, anyone who had ever gone to MSJ!) We have posted pictures, shared memories – laughed ourselves silly – found new friends – prayed for each other – reconnected in wonderful ways. I know my life is richer because of it! Recently, our connection took a new turn as we shared a loss: Beth Parsley A’81 died unexpectedly from complications from surgery. Our MSJ Girls page became our place to share our shock, our grief, our tears. Only this past March I found out that my own classmate, Gail Westry, died in 1990. (Aren’t I too young to be losing a classmate?) And there are the other Alum members who have died this year – your classmates and friends that I don’t know to mention here – but dear and beloved. Our bond as Mount girls deepens in shared loss. So, these dear ones are in my heart as plans are being made for our Memorial Mass. It’s a time for us to come together in our shared faith, to remember, to celebrate, and to honor our Alums who have died this past year. I hope you can come. It’s Saturday, Nov. 5, 4 p.m. at the Motherhouse chapel (and yes, it fulfills your Sunday obligation). We are planning wonderful music (Sister Rosemary Keough A’56, Jenny Speaks McGee A’70, myself), our own beloved Msgr. (Pope) Powers will be our celebrant, and a delicious meal with the Sisters will follow with time to talk and laugh and hug and replenish our spirits with Mount Love. Did you get that date? Nov. 5 – 4:00 Memorial Mass! Plan on coming – you’ll be so glad you did!
Carolyn Sue Cecil A ’73
President, MSJ Academy Alumnae Association New ^
is published twice a year by the Office of Ursuline Partnerships for alumnae of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Junior College.
Coordinator of Ursuline Partnerships: Mrs. Marian Bennett Coordinator of Spiritual Formation: Sister Mary Sheila Higdon Director of Development: Sister Amelia Stenger A’67 Coordinator of Mission Effectiveness: Sister Rose Marita O’Bryan A’60 Director of Mission Advancement/Communications: Dan Heckel Communications/Graphic Design: Jennifer Kaminski Administrative Specialist/Web Development: Tiffany Orth 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356 Phone: 270-229-2006 • Fax: 270-229-4953 www.ursulinesmsj.org • alumnae.msj@maplemount.org
T
ALUMNAE MISSION STATEMENT
he Alumnae Association fosters loyalty, friendship, and community among graduates, former students, and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. In the spirit of Saint Angela Merici, the association upholds Catholic ideals, promotes Christian formation, and supports involvement in Christian service.
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Alumnae Association Officers Left to right: President Carolyn Sue Cecil A’73, Treasurer Tina Weber Smith A’74, Vice President Stephanie Warren A’73, and Secretary Paula Chandler Gray A’73. (Photographed during the May 14-15 Alumnae Weekend)
New archivist on duty
Alumnae in need of transcripts or those just interested in a remembrance of their high school experience now have a new contact. Sarah Patterson began in July as the director of archives for both the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. Sarah was raised just north of Cincinnati, has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University. Prior to moving to Owensboro, she was an archivist at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. Because Sarah will be handling the archives at two locations, the days she is at Maple Mount each week may vary depending on need. The archive is open by appointment, so if you have questions that Sarah can answer, contact her at (270) 229-4103, or at archives.msj@maplemount.org.
How the Office of Ursuline Partnerships can be of service: Prayer Network. Send your prayer requests to
alumnae.msj@maplemount.org. Many people in the U.S. and abroad will be praying for your needs. Let us know if you would like to join our prayer network. Deceased Members. Please contact the office with the alumna’s first, maiden and/or married name, class year if known, and the date of passing. If you have a photo, we will print it if space allows. Transcripts are available from Mount Saint Joseph Archives. Please send a written request (we need your signature) and a $5 check payable to Mount Saint Joseph. Include your maiden name, graduation year, and mailing address. Please allow two weeks. Send request to: ARCHIVES, Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.
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Fall 2011
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The NEW Mount
2011 Maple Leaf awards
Joyce Weikel Grady A’56 (right)
was nominated by Stephanie Warren A’73 (left)
Sister Rosemary Keough A’56 (right)
The Maple Leaf Award has been presented since 2000 at the annual Alumnae Weekend. Awardees personify the values of their Mount Saint Joseph education through contributions to their local faith communities, civic communities and/or Mount Saint Joseph. They may be nominated by alumnae, associate alumnae or faculty of the former academy or junior college. Awardees are chosen by an anonymous panel of alumnae and former Maple Leaf winners.
was nominated by Nancy Mills A’72 (left)
These alumnae received awards at the May 15 banquet:
greatest accomplishments was when she returned to MSJ as a teacher in the late 60s and early 70s, giving Joyce Weikel Grady, Academy class of 1956, spent many of us the God we have in our heart by teaching her professional life teaching in Catholic elementary religion, in addition to being homeroom teacher, and high schools. In addition she has actively mother and friend.” She also served as dorm mother participated in service to her parish and community: “to 35-40 girls at a time, when she taught us by day Faith Formation, Parish Council, Civitan Club, and protected us by night.” Girl Scouts, Red Cross blood drives, and a 40-year Sister Rosemary now ministers to the Hispanic volunteer in the Louisville WHAS Crusade for community, serving as translator and companion, Children. helping with doctor appointments Nominator Stephanie Warren “Loved the choices for and court dates and bringing God’s A’73 said, “The Ursuline mission the Maple Leaf awards. presence wherever she is needed. of education and service informed Two very deserving Nancy wrote, “It is not uncommon Joyce’s early life. She embraced it and recipients.” for her to help bring one of God’s made it a foundation for her whole life children into the world, assisting as educator, servant, wife and mother. - 2011 Alumnae Weekend evaluation foreign people (to) feel welcome “In her over 40-year teaching career Joyce in a new land. She has even been known to pick up touched thousands of students, teachers and families immigrants from the Nashville airport ... with (live) and made a great impact on their educational chickens in tow.” experiences.” Sister Rosemary is seriously committed to She and Bernie, her husband of 52 years, are abolition of the death penalty, and has participated in parents of six children, six grandchildren and one marches supporting efforts to close the School of the great-grandchild. Three of their daughters are Mount Americas in Georgia. In addition, she is always ready Saint Joseph alumnae: Susan, class of 1977; Jackie, to share her musical talents, and has played her flute class of 1978 and Stephanie, class of 1980. at recent Alumnae Weekend masses. Rosemary Keough, OSU, Academy class of 1956, has been a member of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph since her graduation. She was nominated for the Maple Leaf Award by her student, Nancy Mills, class of 1972, who wrote, “I think one of her
ANNUAL DINNER:
Jean Murphy A’48, third from the left, enjoys an array of appetizers at the Mount Saint Joseph annual dinner – “ A Night at the Antique Auction” – on April 30 in the gym. A buffet meal was also served.
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Far left, Sister Rosemary, who ministers to Hispanics with Centro Latino in the counties surrounding Owensboro, Ky., receives a standing ovation as she walks to the podium to receive the Maple Leaf Award from her presenter, Nancy Mills, center, and Carolyn Sue Cecil, president of the Alumnae Association.
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“Beautifully planned” “Friends seeing friends”
“Mass was excellent”
“Wonderful fun!”
Class of 1946....................65 Years (From left) Mike McCarty A’44, Theresa McCarty, Martha Powers Taylor, Dorothy Payne Krumpelman.
Front row, from left, Martha Riney Kamuf, Marilyn McEwen Yaden, and Evelyn Powers May; second row, Connie Mills, Patricia Settles Bueter, Cecilia Head Clouse, and Ann Carri third row, Betty Lindauer Lupfer, Nancy Wathen Blandford, S Hayden Towery.
Class of 1951..................... 60 Years (From left) Rosa Palazzo Schmidt, Mary Ruth Knott Cecil, Joan Sherron Hofman, Sidney Riney Ebelhar.
Class of 1961..............50 Yea
Senior Grad Class of 1962-63
From left, Sister Mary Lois Speaks A’62, Phyllis Thomas Troutman A’63, Sister Karla Kaelin A’63.
Two of the senior alumnae at the reu were Audrey Pierc Durbin A’39, left, Sister Frances Mi Spalding C’40.
Class of 1956................................................. 55 Years
Front row, from left, Lucy Cecil Adams, Virginia Beavin Corley, Jeannie Bickett Calhoun, Patsy Thompson Clayton, and JoAnn Payne; second row, Sister Grace Simpson, Peggy Murphy McCarty, Peggy Rumage Clark, Bernice Riney Bertke, and Eleanor Clements Cooke.
Class of 1956 – We inadvertently
Class of 1966.................... 4
Front row, from left, Mary Murphy Riney, Ma Drury, and Mary Lou Byrne Payne; second r Costello Bresnik, Elaine McCarty Glenn, Sis and Anna Mattingly.
left out the complete class of 1956 in the last New Mount, so here they are on graduation day, June 1, 1956.
the “Seeing their and people each r o f e v o l nd the other a ” Mount New Mount Fall 11.indd 4
of Greenville with Sister R
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Mount Saint Joseph Academy & Junior Colle ge Reunion May 14-15,
2011
Comments in quotes are from 2011 Alumnae Weekend evaluations
Class of 1971............. 40 Years
lyn McEwen nnie Mills, d Ann Carrico; Blandford, Susan
Front row, from left, Mary Danhauer, Wanell Stallings Lanham, Cathy Daugherty Thomas, Barbara Drury Hutchins, and Rebecca Collins Morris; second row, Maria Ransdell, Sheila Ward, Susan Cagle Gentry, Carol Riney, Charlotte Thomas Powers, and Monica Thompson Lord.
See more photos online!
ursulinesmsj.org
“A very special weekend”
50 Years
ior Grads
Class of 1972
From left, Mary Ann Shewmaker Payne, Nancy Mills, and Shirley Bickett Warren.
Class of 1973
Front, Carolyn Sue Cecil; second row, from left, Debbie Alvey Frederick and Stephanie Warren; back row, Rose Turnquist Mann, Rhonda Warren Mischel, and Paula Chandler Gray.
From left, Mary Ann Cossey Powers and Kay Drury Clark
“Couldn’t be any better”
........... 45 Years
Front row, from left, Tina Weber Smith and Pam Coen Corum; second row, Vickie Bickett Gibson, Diane Bickett, and Janet Meyer Calhoun.
Class of 1975
“Loved the liturgy”
Class of 1974
hy Riney, Mary Margaret ne; second row, Phyllis y Glenn, Sister Suzanne Sims,
“Fantastic”
f the senior ae at the reunion Audrey Pierce n A’39, left, and Frances Miriam ing C’40.
RIGHT: Mary Jo Hardesty Roberts A’53 of Louisville, second from right, visited Mount Saint Joseph June 10. A former Ursuline, she was known as Sister Mary Francine Hardesty from 1953-1962. She posed in the dining room with her novitiate classmates, Sister Catherine Barber, left, Sister Mary Agnes VonderHaar, second from left, and Sister Mary Gerald Payne. LEFT: Accompanying Mary Jo on the visit were her sister, Jeanne Hardesty Allin A’44 of Greenville, R.I., left, who is also a former Ursuline. Here she visits with Sister Rita Klarer.
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The NEW Mount
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Alumnae Adventures
Fall 2011 Send your news by e-mail: alumnae.msj@maplemount.org Or mail to our Alumnae Office
Sarah Mattingly Walker A’40, Colorado Springs, Colo.: We are now permanent residents of Colorado Springs. We are near our daughter and grandchildren. We are both approaching 89 and need to be near family. We are in a nice independent living place. I love to receive the news about the Mount. Jeanne F. Hardesty Allin A’44, Greenville, R.I.: Wish I could attend (Alumnae Weekend), but this year I will be at the Mount in June. My granddaughter (a college student in Connecticut) wishes to see the Mount because I and my sisters (the late Margie Hardesty A’45 and Mary Hardesty Roberts A’53) always spoke so highly of the Mount. Mary Ellen Greenwell Hefron A’49, Newburyport, Mass: My years at the Mount paved the way to a great life, religion and 50 years of nursing. MARY DEVOY KELLY A’54 of Raleigh, N.C., was given the North Carolina Council of Community Programs 2011 Citizen Volunteer Leadership Award in recognition of her commitment and service to those in need of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services. The press release stated, “Can one person transform a community from misunderstanding the power of addiction to a community that embraces recovery? Southeastern Center has just the person. Mary Kelly, known in the recovery community as the ‘mistress of lost causes,’ has personally experienced the struggles of addiction and been able to help untold numbers of people suffering with alcoholism and addiction find meaning and recovery through her current volunteer work and past work as a professional. As a retiree, Mary takes on a full-time schedule ... She has been instrumental in expanding resources and the understanding of the disease of addiction. Because of Mary, when persons contact Southeastern’s Call Center requesting assistance to stop using substances, they are offered access to a peer from the Shared Recovery Program in addition to treatment. This unique program has had great success to support long term recovery.” Congratulations to three members of the Class of 1961! Cecilia Head clouse, martha riney kamuf, and connie mills received the 2011 Sophia Award. Each parish in the 32-county Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., nominates an outstanding senior citizen (age 65+) of their parish who is a good example of their Catholic faith. The parishes who nominated them were: Cecilia – St. Alphonsus in St. Joseph, Ky.; Martha – St. Mary Magdalene in Sorgho, Ky., and Connie – St. Augustine in Reed, Ky. Connie Mills A’61, Owensboro Ky.: I retired from Western Kentucky University in November 2007 and returned to Reed, Ky. Life is good here, except for the flood. Water, water everywhere! (written April 2011) Sister Mary Amata (Wanetta) Thomas A’61: I entered the MSJ novitiate after graduation. Eight years later I transferred to the Poor Clare Monastery in Roswell, N.M., fulfilling a desire I had since high school to be a Poor Clare Nun. The Poor Clares are a cloistered contemplative Order founded in the 13th century by Saint Clare and Saint Francis Assisi. In 1977 I was asked to be one of the foundresses of a new foundation here in Alexandria, Va. I have been very happy as a Poor Clare and have the joy of ordering my day around the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. My Dad died in 1970 of cancer and Mom died in 1993 of advancing age and heart trouble. My two brothers and sister and their families live mainly in Lebanon and/or Louisville. The Mount is really my “Old Kentucky Home,” a place dear to me from the day I arrived as a freshman in 1957. May God bless each of you. Rosemary Jones Wallace A’65, Longs, S.C.: The Class of 1965 has created our own Facebook page. Find Mary Costello or Sister Judy Riney or Rose Wallace on Facebook and we will add you to our page. Susan Weidenbenner Struna A’66, Chesterfield, Mo.: Jim and I retired from careers in engineering and accounting in 2010; we will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in May (2011); currently we are thoroughly enjoying our two grandchildren! Sheila Huff Woodard (pictured on left), a member of the class of 1972, enjoyed a mini-reunion with her classmates, Dorothy Ford Riggs (pictured on right) and Nancy Mills in Harrodsburg, Ky., on June 25. Sheila owns Sew What, an alterations company specializing in wedding gowns and window treatments. Dorothy is a secretary in the Marion County Court system; Nancy is an active volunteer at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish and Mount Saint Joseph.
Gym
From front page
novitiate and juniorate. “We would meet in the gym every evening after supper and either dance (waltz and polka), play volleyball, or perform plays on stage,” she said. Dorothy “Chris” Denniston A’65 said she was in the gym with a group of students practicing for an evening choral presentation on Nov. 22, 1963. “Sister Ruth Helen came on the speaker system and announced that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. We were stunned! Several minutes later she came on again, to let us know he had died. Life stood still in St. Michael’s gym that day,” Denniston said. She also remembers more pleasant times, such as the senior all night roller skating party in St. Michael’s gym.
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“For one reason or another, our class couldn’t take a senior class trip. So our Principal, Sister Miriam Medley, suggested an overnight party in the gym. We had a ball skating, eating snacks, listening to music, and sleeping on the bleachers. It was the ultimate senior class trip!” She recalls being among 44 students on May 28th, 1965, entering through the back door of St. Michael’s gym, walking down the center aisle and on to the stage to graduate. “We were young girls about to embark on new adventures. I often wonder what happened to the 4-inch heels I was wearing that day,” she said. “If I put them on now, I’d certainly break both my ankles. “Every memory is beautiful and will forever be etched in my soul.” - By Dan Heckel, Mount Saint Joseph staff
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The NEW Mount
Sister Mary Sheila will be new coordinator of formation for alumnae Sister Mary Sheila Higdon will be the new coordinator of formation for Ursuline Partnerships starting this fall. Sister Mary Sheila is a native of Owensboro, Ky., and has been a teacher and principal and has served in diocesan and parish ministry in Missouri, Nebraska, and Kentucky for over 60 years. She said she is looking forward to her new ministry. Sister Mary Sheila will assist Academy and College alumnae and Ursuline Associates in their ongoing formation and spirituality opportunities. She replaces Sister Marietta Wethington, who is focusing on her Center and Saint Joseph Villa ministries.
In Loving Memory...
Mount Saint Joseph Academy cookbooks, “Food for the Soul, Memories for the Heart,” are still available for just $15 (made payable to MSJ Alumnae Association) Call 270-229-2006
Please include the following alumnae, faculty and family in your prayers
• Sister Marita Greenwell, 85, died June 21 at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 65th year of religious life. A native of Rhodelia in Meade County, Ky., she was an inspiration to many, first as an encouraging music teacher, and then as the leader of the Contemporary Woman Program at Brescia College/University, a revolutionary self-esteem building program for women which she directed for 32 years (1973-2005). She was a teacher at St. Martin School, Rome (1948-52), Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Maple Mount (1960-68), Blessed Mother School (1954), Immaculate School (1970-71), and Brescia College (1971-73) in Owensboro, St. Thomas More School, Paducah (1954-55), as well as in the Archdiocese of Louisville and in Missouri. She was co-director of the Ursuline Associate program from 1996-2002. Survivors include her sister, Dorothy Hughes of Elizabethtown, nieces and nephews and the members of Sister Marita her religious community. The funeral Mass was June 24 with burial in the convent cemetery. Memorial gifts for Sister Marita or any other deceased sister may take the form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. • Olivia Higdon Cassidy A’38, died March 5 at age of 91 in Louisville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence M. Cassidy, and is survived by two daughters, Maureen of Louisville and Eileen of Bardstown. She was born in St. Lawrence, Ky., graduated from Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Nursing School, taught nursing arts at Nazareth College during World War II, and ran the Bonsai Store for 25 years with her husband. Olivia was a good tennis player, a great fisherman, and always had a daily song for everyone. She bequeathed her body to the University of Louisville School of Medicine. • William A. Mattingly, Jr., A’44, died June 22 at age 86. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier and is survived by Elizabeth Clark Mattingly, his wife of 64 years. Also among his survivors are his daughters, Kathy Sue Evans A’68 and Sharon Bell A’72; and his sisters, Jean Murphy A’48 and Doris Schadler A’49. • Sister Margaret Mary Mattingly, a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Junior College, died May 10 at age 80. She was a member of the Whitesville, Ky., Passionist Nuns and made perpetual vows in 1954. Survivors include her sister, Doris, and three brothers, Charles, Bill and Gene. • Augusta Mae Powers A’65, died Aug. 27 at her home in Cloverport, Ky. at age 64. Her survivors include Ursuline Sisters Marian Powers A’51 and Rose Jean Powers A’61. Gussie was a graduate of Brescia College and Western Kentucky University. She taught primary grades for the Owensboro Catholic Diocesan Schools for 22 years. She left teaching to care for her invalid mother and later worked in security at National Southwire, Century Aluminum and Aleris.
Augusta Powers
• Beth A. Parsley A’81, died Aug. 29 at age 48. An Owensboro native, Beth was employed by Dell Computers and had also worked in the field of social services. She was a graduate of Western Kentucky University and Middle Tennessee State University. Beth is survived by her parents, Carol and William Feldhaus of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Barbara and Loney Parsley of Lewisport, Ky.; her maternal grandmother, Virginia M. Sweat of Murfreesboro; her brother John and her niece, Sara Parsley; many uncles and cousins, and companion and friend, Karen Robertson of Nashville.
We Extend Deepest Sympathy To: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Sisters Jane Miriam (C’43) and Jane Irvin (C’47) Hancock, whose brother, John Hancock, died May 11. Celine Powers Kahalley A’48, whose husband, Albert Kahalley, died Feb. 28. Sister Mary Jude Cecil A’50, whose sister-in-law, Anna Evelyn Cecil, died Aug. 1. Rosa Palazzo Schmidt A’51, whose mother, Josie Quinn, died Aug. 29. Mary Ford Vuncannon A’55, Ginger Ford Green A’57, Kathy Ford Young A’70, and Dorothy Ford Riggs A’72, whose brother, Joe Ford, died May 28. Jean Spalding Allen A’55, whose husband, Pat, died May 7. Charlene Davis A’56, whose cousin, Billy Hagan, died Aug. 30, and whose cousin, David Kenny, died March 30. Jo Ann Payne Hayden A’56, and Sister Pauletta McCarty A’39, whose father and brother-in-law, Bernard Payne, died Aug. 10. Marie Rode A’58, Sister Elaine Byrne A’64, Mary Lou Payne Byrne A’66, Joan Byrne A’64 and Alo Byrne A’69, whose brother and brother-in-law, John D. Byrne Jr.. died March 12. Sister Nancy Murphy A’59, whose great-nephew, Josh Yeckering, died May 19. Shirley Redmond Hair A’60, whose mother-in-law, Willie Mae Harris, died Jan. 30. Mary Costello A’65 and Phyllis Costello Bresnik A’66, whose cousin, Bob Callow, died May 27. Sister Maureen O’Neill A’66, whose mother, Bertha O’Neill, died March 25. Mary Wethington Gordon A’69 and Paula Wethington Garman A’70, whose mother, Rosemarie Wethington Fanning, died July 20. Lou Dorth Howard A’69 and Carolyn McCarty Howard A’70, whose father-in-law, David Leon Howard, died June 28. Winnie Riney Cohron A’69, whose husband, Gene Cohron, died April 12. Lupita Vergara Ellis A’70, whose husband, James C. Ellis III, died July 22. Rita Thomas Tanner A’72, whose granddaughter, Addison Jo Blair, died May 27. Sister Dianna Ortiz A’77, whose father, Pilar Ortiz, died April 1.
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8001 Cummings Road Maple Mount, KY 42356-9999 270-229-4103 www.ursulinesmsj.org • info.msj@maplemount.org
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OWENSBORO KY 42301 PERMIT NO. 120
Please help us update our mailing list. If there are errors in your address, please inform us so that we may correct them. Phone: 270-229-2006 • alumnae.msj@maplemount.org
If you have a smartphone, this QR code will take you to our website!
. g Up..
in Catch
Recalling Loyalty Day
with Sister Eileen
Music has always been deep inside Sister Mary Eileen Howard, and she’s spent much of her life helping get others involved in music and liturgy. “I don’t know what I’d do without music, or what the world would do without music,” she said. “It would be like taking all the birds out of the world.” Sister Mary Eileen taught music at Mount Saint Joseph Academy from 1954-56, and again from 1967-69. Upon graduating from the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College in 1947, she joined the Ursuline Sisters later that year, entering the novitiate in 1948. That makes this her 63rd year as a sister. She had only been teaching four years when she came to the Academy in 1954, and said she lacked some confidence in those early years. “I was just a few years out of the novitiate, I didn’t feel qualified,” she said. “We had a girl’s orchestra, it was great,” she said, noting that several future sisters played in that orchestra. “We made it through those two years.” She moved about every two years for the next decade. Because the community had so few music teachers, when one moved, they all moved to fill the void, Sister Mary Eileen said. In 1967, she was back at the Academy for a two-year stint, teaching freshmen and sophomores. “I had a degree, and a year at a teacher’s performance institute. It gave me confidence,” she said. “I always had a fondness for those girls, they were really go-getters.” Sister Mary Eileen tries to make the reunions each year because she feels such affection for the women she taught, who graduated in the early 1970s. “I feel close to them,” she said. Since 1996, Sister Mary Eileen has served as liturgist and director of worship at the Motherhouse, sharing duties with Sister Marie Julie Fecher. She is cutting back on her duties some now, playing music at Mass every other Sunday with Sister Marie Julie, and just one day during the week. Sister Mary Eileen is likely to be found in her room at Saint Joseph Villa listening to music, reading, and perhaps putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Friends can write to Sister Mary Eileen at 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.
Mark your calendars! Alumnae Memorial Mass: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 Next Alumnae Weekend: May 19-20, 2012 Did you know that if you attended the Academy at least one semester, you are considered an alum? Be sure to check the Lost alumnae list on our website: www.ursulinesmsj.org/alumnae
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Dear Alumnae, It is August as I write this and school is just beginning in many areas. Remember those days when we would be preparing to come back to the Mount? We were getting two uniforms ready, six pairs of socks, our saddle oxfords all polished and ready to Joy Robinson Keller go. In my case, I was A’59, left, and Pat just happy not to have to Wedding Stelmach A’68 pick cotton on our farm. call bingo numbers at the I was ready to come back 2011 Mount Saint Joseph to the good friends, the picnic on Sept. 11. welcome of the sisters, and the challenge of a new year. This August brings many people to the Mount, but they are helping us get ready for the 41st Picnic for the retired sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. The picnic didn’t begin until the first year I entered the community in 1967. In the beginning we called it Loyalty Day. All the things we sold were made by the sisters. We had beautiful quilts, afghans, pillowcases, and hosts of other things. It was a way to say “thank you” to the sisters who had given their lives for others and were now retiring. Many of our friends and relatives came to those first Loyalty Days. Loyalty is a wonderful word. To be loyal means “to be faithful to persons and ideals that one is under obligation to defend, support, or be true to.” We received so much while we were here at the Academy. As Alumnae members, we are called to be loyal to all who shared their talents, care, and educational expertise with us. Let’s get together and give back. The Quilt Club is a way you can support the work of the Ursuline Sisters. We give away a quilt each month, with the cost to join only $20 for the year. If each Alumnae member bought just one ticket, we could make a difference. Any donation you wish to make is appreciated. We are grateful for your support. God Bless each of you. Please check out our website for all the latest news – ursulinesmsj.org. – Sister Amelia Stenger A ’67
Director of Development for the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph
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