Oral History: Sister David Mary Leonard
Dublin Core
Title
Oral History: Sister David Mary Leonard
Subject
Sister David Mary Leonard
Description
An oral history of Sister David Mary Leonard, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1932 until 2002. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on October 12, 1986.
Sister David Mary Leonard was born on January 23, 1915 in Cumberland, Md. Daughter of David A. Leonard and Edna R. Mason, Kathleen C. Leonard entered the community on September 8, 1932 as Sister David Mary Leonard.
Sister David Mary spent much of her ministry in education and care for the deaf and hard of hearing at the DePaul Institute in Brookline. She initially taught junior high education for the hard of hearing for 37 years, and later served as a full-time psychologist for the Institute. She also worked as coordinator of the “Share A Home” project and as liaison of the Alumni Office. She also coordinated to send older DePaul students to the Connelly Vocational School and the Vocational Center at South Hills High School to learn useful trades.
Sister David Mary earned her B.S. in Education at the University of Pittsburgh in 1945 and earned her M.A. in Education at Catholic University in 1950. She was certified by the state as a teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Speech Correction and Public School Psychology and was certified by the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf.
Sister David Mary Leonard passed away on May 7, 2002, at the age of 87.
Sister David Mary Leonard was born on January 23, 1915 in Cumberland, Md. Daughter of David A. Leonard and Edna R. Mason, Kathleen C. Leonard entered the community on September 8, 1932 as Sister David Mary Leonard.
Sister David Mary spent much of her ministry in education and care for the deaf and hard of hearing at the DePaul Institute in Brookline. She initially taught junior high education for the hard of hearing for 37 years, and later served as a full-time psychologist for the Institute. She also worked as coordinator of the “Share A Home” project and as liaison of the Alumni Office. She also coordinated to send older DePaul students to the Connelly Vocational School and the Vocational Center at South Hills High School to learn useful trades.
Sister David Mary earned her B.S. in Education at the University of Pittsburgh in 1945 and earned her M.A. in Education at Catholic University in 1950. She was certified by the state as a teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Speech Correction and Public School Psychology and was certified by the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf.
Sister David Mary Leonard passed away on May 7, 2002, at the age of 87.
Creator
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Publisher
Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Date
1986/10/12
Rights
All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Format
Audio cassette tape
Type
Oral history
Identifier
OH-71
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Sister Marie Corona Miller
Interviewee
Sister David Mary Leonard
Transcription
OH
71-1 Sr. David Mary Leonard Tape I Side I
This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister David Mary Leonard. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at De Paul Institute. The date is October twelfth, nineteen eighty-six.
SMCM: Good morning, Sr. David Mary. Sister, I'm very happy to be here with you today to talk about your personal history.
SDML: Good morning, Sister. I was born Kathleen Leonard, January twenty-third, nineteen fifteen in Cumberland, Maryland. My Father, David Leonard, was the youngest of twelve children, born to Adam and Emma Clarr Leonard in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He had come to Cumberland as a young man and he met my Mother there. Her name was Edna Mason. She was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph Mason and Rose Mattingly Mason. Rose was a descendant of the original Mattingly’s who came to Southern Maryland with Lord Baltimore. There were three brothers. They settled...one in Ohio, one in Maryland, and one in Kentucky. My Grandmother told me that I would never meet a Mattingly who was not descended from one of those three. My Grandmother had a sister who entered the Seton Hill Sisters of Charity..Sister Louis Regina Mattingly. Sister died at a very young age in eighteen ninety after being in the Community for just four years. Her sister, Emma Mattingly, went to Kansas and entered the Ursuline Community there. My Mother's youngest sister, Lucy, followed her to Kansas. She is still living there. She is Sister Rosemary Mason. My Father, the youngest of twelve, never had the opportunity to attend a Catholic School. Both families were farm families.
His family produced five Granddaughters to the Religious Life four
Sisters of Charity and one to the Ursuline Community in Paoli, Kansas. His sister, Emma became a Visitation Nun in Georgetown, Kentucky. I grew up in St. Patrick's Parish in Cumberland, Maryland. I went to St. Patrick's Grade School where I was taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame. went to the High School there also which was upstairs. It was a very small school. My graduating class consisted of fifteen girls. The boys left after sixth grade and went across the yard to La Salle Institute which was conducted by the Christian Brothers. I can't remember anytime that I was not planning to be a Sister. It was always assumed that I would be a School Sister of Notre Dame because they were the only Sisters that I
really knew. I knew about these relatives, but they were all sort of out there somewhere. There were Daughters of Charity in the town, but they were Hospital Sisters. I didn't know that they worked jn schools until much later. My Mother very wisely arranged for me to meet some of these Sister relatives from different places so that I would have a wider choice. Among
the trips which she planned was one to Greensburg-. It was after my
Sophomore year. I visited Sister Marie Elizabeth Leonard, Sister Jean Marie Leonard, and Sister Rita Mary Leonard, all of whom were first cousins. When I was in my Senior year, I was still going to be a School Sister of Notre Dame, but sometime in the Spring of that year, I made a retreat, during which I learned that I really belonged to Seton Hill. So, I wrote to the Mother Superior not knowing her name. She invited me to come to visit. I visited on June nineteenth. There had been no contact with the cousins. When I went to visit, Sr. Marie Elizabeth met me at the door. Mother Eveline Fisher had turned over my letter to Sister Theodosia Murtha, who was the Mistress of Novices. Sr. Theodosia then invited Sr. Marie Elizabeth. That was my offici I petitioning day. I found out later that it was .the anniversary of Sr. Louis Regina Mattingly's death.
SMCM: What year was that, Sister?
SDML: It was nineteen thirty-two. It was immediately after my graduation from High School. I was accepted and told to prepare- for September eighth. I spent the Summer trying to get my wardrobe together. Since I wasn't near any of the Sisters, it was like hit and miss, because I was trying to get the items on the clothes list. The School Sisters of Notre Dame were very gracious. They helped, and they ordered some things for me. So, I came to Greensburg on September eighth. My Father and my Brother and I left Cumberland at something like four o'clock in the morning by train and went to Connellsville. My cousin from Greensburg met us there. He took us to his home for breakfast. It was still only about eight o'clock in the morning. It was too early to go up to Seton Hill. Finally, we went up. Sr. Marie Elizabeth couldn't be there to take care of me because she was teaching. She delegated Sister Margaret Ann Hanley to put my lace cap on. She took me up to the Blessed Mother's altar. I left my
Father and my Brother. I went up to the Novitiate and was ushered into the Senior Novitiate to help tie knots in haps. We would call them quilts or comforts, but they called them haps.
SMCM: What time did you enter? Were you the first one?
SDML: I think it was about ten o'clock in the morning. I think I may have been, but there were a couple of others there by lunch time. Sister Marie Celeste Cuzzolina and Sister Inez Mary Beckel came from Altoona. Sister Teresina Bridges, Sister Rosina Highland, Sister Miriam Ann Eck and Sister (couldn't get the name) came from Johnstown. The rest came in the afternoon. My biggest surprise was that Sister Theodosia was young and beautiful. I expected her to be old and cranky. By the evening meal everyone was there. Mother Richard Ann Watson, Sister Olivia Hamilton, Sister Maura Walsh, Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt, Sister Teresa Marie Jenkins, Sister Naomi Walsh, Sister Mary Timothy Adams, Sister John Joseph Weber, Sister Marie de Sales Clougherty, and Sister Mary Frederick Blatt. There were seventeen, and we became known as the" Notorius Seventeen." We had a good time, we learned a great deal, we worked hard, and we tried hard to pray. Some of the College teachers came over to the Novitiate from the very beginning and gave us classes.
We had courses like...The History of Education, The Fundamentals of Education, and valuable things like that. Sister Francesca Brownlee, and Sister Teresa Clare Kernan were the main teachers. Sister Agnes Francina Kearney was in charge of the sewing room. Sister Ann Regina Sweeney had us for Choir. She had tryouts to determine eligibility. Sister Cecilia Clare Ott helped us to make our first habit. That was difficult, because most of us couldn't sew at all. We had a very interesting and busy postulancy which lasted only until January first. We received the habit and the white cap on January first, nineteen thirty-three. Then we had our canonical year which was mostly spiritual development. If we had any courses from the College, they would have been Religion classes.
SMCM: Was Mother Evelyn at the head of the Community at this time? SDML: Yes, it was the beginning of her second term in Office. Sister Marie Antonio Mclinden, who was at De Paul Institute some time-later was the Assistant Mother on the Council. Sister Victorine Ellsworth was the Treasurer, and Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub was the Procurator. That was the Council in those days.
At the end of that year, January first, nineteen thirty-four, we received the black cap. Most of us were assigned to Missions. Sister Mary Frederick and I were not missioned. We were told that we were going to school. In the meantime, Sister Carolyn Lager had broken her leg at St. Philip's in Crafton. Instead of going to school, I was sent to Crafton to replace her.
Sister Mary Frederick was also sent somewhere, but I don't remember where. Anyhow, we didn't get to go to school until some time later. I was sent to teach Sr. Carolyn's fourth grade temporarily for five weeks. Sister Angela Sullivan was the Principal and Sister Servant. She was very stern, but kind. She was in my classroom every day. - She just sat quietly in the back, keeping discipline I imagine. When Sister Carolyn returned, I was then needed at St. Anselm's in Swissvale. I substituted there for one week for Sister M. Gabriel McGivern, who had gone to visit her sister, who was. at Mt. Hope. When Sister Gabriel returned, I substituted for Sister Mary Patrick Donovan for the following week in the fifth grade, which was also at St. Anselm's. By that time it was Lent. I remember going to St. Luke's in Carnegie. Someone from St. Anselm's escorted me to Carnegie via train or streetcar. I was first put into the High School at St. Luke's to replace Sister Mary Henry Hanse who was off duty. After a few weeks there., Sister Agnes Marie Reuber, who was the Sister Servant and Principal of the High School and Grade School said to me: "Do you think you're a High School teacher?" I said: "I don't know, Sister." She said: "Well, you're not! Sister Mary Henry is back, and she will take her classes. So, you will go across the street to the seventh grade where someone else is off duty." I went over there and did my best in that seventh grade for the rest of the school year. I loved those children and everything about it. I returned to St.
Luke's in August, which would have been August of nineteen thirty-four for another full year in that seventh grade. It was during that year that I taught Sister Camillus Erb- .·- At the end of that year, I would have been happy to come back to Carnegie forever, but it wasn't to be that way. In the meantime, there were three of us there who were preparing for Vows. As of January First, nineteen thirty-four, we were to pronounce our Vows for the first time. During that first semester, Sr. Agnes Marie Reuber, who was Sister Servant and Principal of both the grade and high school, nevertheless took us every Wednesday evening for a study of the Vow manual.
SMCM: Sister, who were the three Sisters preparing for Vows?
SDML: They were: Sister Teresa Marie Jenkins, Sister M. Naomi Walsh and myself. We were right next to each other in the Community. We slept up on the top floor, what we called the Attic, four of us in a room. I don't remember who the fourth Sister was. I remember once having a very bad cold, and Sr. Agnes Marie trudged up those steps to rub my chest. I got
better fast! She was a very strong woman and forceful. She was a good, holy, woman. When she said something, it was said, and you did it. Sr. Agnes Marie also taught German in the High School.
That Christmas, we went back to Seton Hill, to prepare for Vows, by making what was called the "Christmas Retreat." Then on January First, we pronounced our Vows. At that time, they were annual Vows. That was a big event. We knelt up in the front of the Chapel, and we said our Vows together between the two elevations of the Mass. Mother Eveline Fisher and Sister Marie Antonio Mclinden knelt up there with us to receive our Vows. Then we went back to Carnegie for the remainder of that year.
When I left Carnegie, I had no thought about being transferred. Of course, we knew that we were always subject to being changed. When the mission list came out, it just happened to be the day that I was leaving for my first-visit home. My parents came to get me. We rode over night. I learned that I was going to De Paul Institute, which meant very little to me. I knew that Sister Inez Mary Beckel, who is in my group was at De Paul for a year, but I still knew very little about it. She was very excited about my coming to De Paul. I had never known any deaf people, except an Aunt and Uncle of a classmate of mine. I'm sure they were old time, deaf, who never learned any speech, and I was afraid of it. I went willingly and found
myself happy to be there. Immediately, Sr. Marie Antonio, who was still on the Council, came to visit. She wanted to know how I liked it. I already was sold on it completely.
SMCM: Who was the Sister Servant?
SDML: Sister M. Bernadette Hayes was the Sister Servant in the absence of Sr. Marie Antonio. She really had never worked here, but she was sent here during the six years that Sr. Marie Antonio was on the Council. Sister Teresa Vincent Mahoney was the Principal. The Sisters here were: Sister Marie Michael Carroll, Sister Rose Gertrude Ritzert, Sister Emmanuel Manning, Sister Benedicta Sharp, (Sr. Benedicta had charge of the boys), Sister Mary Lois Highland, (Sr. Mary Lois had charge of the girls}, Sister Ethelreda Merz, Sister Teresa Mary Lacey, Sister M. Bridgetta Fitzpatrick, Sister Rose Xavier Garrity, Sister Mary Linus Hoag, Sister M. Fiorita McGrory, and Sister Inez Mary Beckel.
SMCM: How many Sisters were there?
SDML: I think there were about fifteen. I'm not remembering all of them
because people were coming and going all the time. They were all very kind to me.
I was assigned to observe Sister Rose Gertrude in the Primary Department. The youngest children we had were about seven years old. spent some time each day with Sr. Rose Gertrude, and then some time with Sr. Mary Linus at the next level. I also spent some time with Sr.
Teresa Vincent, who, in addition to being Principal, was still trying to teach some classes. Time was spent too with Sr. Emmanuel and with Sr. Rose Xavier. Eventually, I had my first class, which was middle school children. They were about twelve years old. When Sister Emmanuel died in nineteen forty, I moved into the upper level, where I spent most of my time until I was made School Psychologist. We were still Novices even though we had made Vows once until we had completed five years. I don't know why, but five years and three months was the exact time. On December eighth, nineteen thirty-seven, we were officially professed Sisters. There was no ceremony connected with it. We just no longer reported to the Novitiate. During those five years, every time we went back to Greensburg, we were Senior Novices. We were still under Sister Theodosia Murtha.
SMCM: Did you have to go back to Seton Hill every Summer?
SDML: I went back the first two Summers, but I don't think we went back every Summer.
SMCM: Did you go to school?
SDML: We went to school. We took classes in the College.
I remember one Summer when Mother M. Eveline Fisher was the Mother Superior and she said: "You went to school last Winter. So, you can spend the Summer in the laundry." I had gone to Duquesne from De Paul on Saturdays and took a class or two. I did then work in the lower part of the laundry mangling sheets, and taking charge of the Novices who came to the laundry to help.
SMCM: Sister, who was in charge of the laundry at that time?
SDML: I think that Sister M. Aloise White was still there, but maybe Sister Ruth Cecilia Giseburt was there by that time, but I don't think so. In any case, that was my part. I enjoyed it. I got a lot of reading done that Summer, didn't have to study, and that was very nice. Then after that, I didn't go back to Seton Hill in the Summers. I went to school at Duquesne and at St. John's Liberty Avenue where the Community had classes for the
Sisters on Saturdays. I never matriculated at Duquesne, I just took courses there. After Sr. Emmanuel died suddenly the Easter of nineteen forty, I was sent to Pitt. I went there with about sixty-seven credits, most of which were from Seton Hill, and some from Duquesne.
Tape I Side II
SMCM: Sister, you were talking about your education.
SDML: Yes. I started at the University of Pittsburgh the Summer of nineteen forty. I went there part time until January of nineteen forty-five when I graduated. I got my degree in Education with concentration on Psychology, and also in Geography. The Summer of nineteen forty-five, I was sent to Catholic University to work on a graduate level. Again, I majored in Education with a Minor in Religious Education. I spent six happy, very hard working Summers there. I graduated from Catholic University in nineteen fifty with a Master's Degree.
SMCM: Sister, is that when our Sister Maurice McManama was there? SDML: Yes, I was there with Sister Maurice most of those years. She was very kind. She knew the ropes...the campus, etc. In fact, I took one course from her there. Every Summer there were several of our Sisters there, but I can't remember exactly in what order they came, or who were there which Summers. I know that Sister Mary Agnes Schildkamp and Sister Rebecca Kelsey were there for at least one Summer. Sister Deborah Kelly was there while I was there. Several Sisters from De Paul were there different Summers.
I took the following year off from Study. In the Summer of nineteen fifty two, I was sent to Northwestern University for nine or ten weeks. I returned to Northwestern the Summers of nineteen fifty-three and fifty-four. At Northwestern University, I worked toward requirements needed for State certification in the Education of the Deaf. I didn't receive a degree from Northwestern. That was all Post Master's work. Then I went back to Duquesne University part time. I took special courses which were needed for certification.
During those years of schooling, I acquired Certification in Elementary Education, Education of the Deaf, Speech Therapy, and finally in School Psychology. In the meantime, I had been teaching here at De Paul continuously. I remained in full time teaching until nineteen seventy, at . which time I was given part time as to work on School Psychology. In
January, nineteen fifty-seven, when Sr. Teresa Vincent left here and Sister Helen Louise Connelly was made Principal; I was asked to take charge of the testing program. I was doing that while teaching full time for several years. Finally, in nineteen seventy-four, I was relieved from the classroom completely and given full time in the clinic. During those years, I worked closely with the Alumni. I had taught older children most of the time, so it was natural that I would keep in touch with them. We had an organized program going, and a Newsletter. It is still a very active on-going thing.
They don't have organized meetings, but we still have the Newsletter, and they come to class re-unions.
Sr. Marie Antonio returned here in the Fall of nineteen thirty-six, having completed her six years on the Council. She became the local Sister Servant at that time I believe. Sr. Teresa Vincent remained Principal.
There were times when Sr. Teresa Vincent also seemed to be Sister Servant. They relieved each other on occasion, but Sr. Marie Antonio was always in the background. She was always at the top because she had been one of the original Founding Sisters back in nineteen hundred eight.
SMCM: Who else was with Sr. Marie Antonio back in nineteen eight? SDML: There was a Sister Martha. I can't remember who the third one was. Two of them didn't stay in the work, but Sr. Marie Antonio did. In the early years at De Paul, we got back to Seton Hill just for retreat. As cars became more common, we were able to get there more often. When more of the Sisters became drivers, it became even more possible.
The Sisters making renovation spent several Summers here at De Paul. We always had Sisters who were studying at Duquesne living here in the Summer.
SMCM: What was your experience like living with the children when you first came to De Paul?
SDML: That was very interesting. We lived in a dormitory, those of us who lived on the girls' side. You had a curtained corner with a very small stand and a cupboard somewhere out in the hall where you could hang your habit. You waited until the girls were in bed so that you could use the bathroom. If anyone got sick or anything like that during the night, you were responsible. Eventually, I graduated to a semi-private room. There were two of us in a room which was so small that if one person was saying their prayers, the other couldn't pass until she got up. I remember it being
that way with Sister McClory. The Sisters who lived on the boys' side had little rooms between the dormitories. They had a window opening to the dormitory so that if they heard anything unusual, they could look through the window before going out. Those were interesting years. I don't remember having too much disturb us during the night. I think that I was so tired that I wouldn't have heard it. We taught all day. Every teacher had evening study hour with her class. The Angels ( Sisters who had charge of the children outside of school) had to be relieved for an hour in the evening so that they could pray. Some of us had to help the children to get ready for bed. The children were here even on the week-ends in those days.
SMCM: Were there a lot of children in residence in those days?
SDML: Everyone was in residence. The only ones who were not in residence, to my recollection, were two boys who lived in Brookline. They were permitted to go home. It was customary in Schools For the Deaf to keep all the children in residence. I think the reasoning was so that the teachers could have more access to them, but we learned gradually later on that the children needed their families as much as or more than they needed the school. So, we worked toward getting to be day pupils, but that was a long process.
SMCM: Did you have dining room duty, Sister?
SDML: Yes, the children were all seated and served. There were two Sisters on duty in that Dining Room...one on each end. We all took turns doing this.
SMCM: You also took part in the program at Edgewood, didn't you? SDML: Oh, yes. I don't remember which years, but at least two or three years, I went out there every Monday after school here and we met those children. At bed time they were not allowed to be taught. We were not allowed to teach them Religion in their own school. A couple of Catholic teachers walked the children down to St. James school in Wilkinsburg where we met them. We used all of the classrooms in St. James School for an hour after school.
SMCM: How long did that Monday night program go on?
SDML: It went on for a long time. It started out being a Sunday morning
program. I remember Sisters as far back as Sister Mary Linus, Sister Teresa Vincent meeting the children after Mass to teach them Religion.
SMCM: Why did they change it?
SDML: I don't know. I don't remember the reasoning, but the second phase was the Monday after school thing. The third phase was: A couple of Sisters by that time, we were down to one or two, went to the school itself to meet the children. The program still goes on, but I believe all of the teachers are lay teachers.
SMCM: What group of children did you have when you helped?
SDML: I had the oldest children. When one of the priests was there, I believe it was Father Daugherty, he took the oldest group, and I had the second oldest. When Father wasn't there, I had the oldest. It was difficult work, because the children were used to people signing to them. We didn't do that. I met some very nice people there. One of the boys, whom I taught, later married one of our girls. That couple has kept in close touch with me. .
Another thing that we did was go to Canonsburg to a place called Morganza. I think it has a different name now. It was a school for delinquents. There were some deaf children there. A couple of us went out there for a while to teach them lip reading. It was for a short time, but it was another interesting experience.
SMCM: Was that after school?
SDML: I have a feeling that it was on Sundays.
SDML: On May fifteenth, in nineteen forty-nine, Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers went from mission to mission to receive the Sisters' Perpetual Vows. Up until that time, of course, we had been under Annual Vows.
When Mother Rose Genevieve came to De Paul, we were all assembled in the Chapel, which is presently the Library. It was a very solemn moment.
A lay person was taking care of the phone here. During that time, there was a phone call for me. When the ceremony was over, I was given the message to call Mary Halloran. I had the vague notion that Mary Halloran was the daughter of my mother's first cousin, who I knew lived in Pittsburgh. I called Mary, and she told me that she was interested in becoming a Sister of Charity. She was my second cousin. My Grandmother and her Grandfather had been brother and sister. Her
mother had married a Pittsburgh man and had come here to live, so I probably only met her once that I could remember. Mary Halloran had been in our Sisters school in Brushton, in Father Black's parish until it closed. Eight years later, she wanted to enter. She looked me up because her Mother remembered that I was in Pittsburgh.
SMCM: What was the name of that parish?
SDML: Most Blessed Sacrament. It had been called Marian at one time, but got to be called just Father Black's. Mary wanted to be a Sister like one she had remembered from her early years in grade school. Mary's family went to an Italian parish after that, I believe it was Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Then she went to a Public High School and worked for four years before realizing that she wanted to become a Sister of Charity. Her Mother, her Aunt and I got into the act to put her in touch with me.
She entered in September of nineteen forty-nine.
Five years later, Rosemary Corwin, who lived in Jackson, Michigan, and was the daughter of my Aunt, my first cousin really by adoption, wanted to enter our Community. When she talked to me about it, I said: "Well, you know it's a long distance between Michigan and Greensburg. You won't get home very often." She was determined that this was what she wanted.
SMCM: Sister, could you tell us a little bit about Sister Rose Virginia (Rosemary Corwin)?
SDML: Her Mother had died when she was only two years old. Her Father,
who had several other children, was not able to provide for her. The Pastor at the parish asked my Aunt to take this little girl. My Aunt and her second husband (her first husband had died) were more than willing to take this little girl. They enjoyed rearing her. She went to the Catholic schools in Michigan, first to the Dominican Sisters for grade school, then to the Cincinnati Sisters of Charity for high school. She had met me once or twice when she was small, so she decided that she would like to become a Greensburg Sister of Charity. Meantime, she had gone through college and had spent some time at Catholic University.
SMCM: What was her field?
SDML: It was Education. She was a teacher for several years before she entered. She finally came to see me in Greensburg. It was nineteen fifty four, the Marian Year. She was accepted for September eighth. I didn't
see much of her in between times. She entered on September eighth, nineteen fifty-four. Both of Sister Rose Virginia's parents became invalids. There was no-one to take care of them. The Community gave Sister permission to go to Michigan to care for them. The Father died. After that, they sold their home and moved the Mother into an apartment. Sister had to stay with her.
SMCM: Didn't Sister also teach at this time?
SDML: She also taught at St. Mary's School with the Cincinnati Sisters of Charity. At one point, she taught at Queen's School, which is a Dominican School. She came back for one year and worked in Johnstown, but then she had to go back to Michigan again. When she went back, she took a part time job as a Librarian at St. Mary's. She had a person who stayed with her Mother during the hours when she was at the Library.
SMCM: How long did she do this?
SDML: I would say it was five or six years. Her Mother became weaker and weaker. Sister knew that she wasn't going to have her Mother much longer, but she didn't go to the Hospital as there really wasn't anything they could do. Three days before my Jubilee Celebration at Seton Hill,
in nineteen eighty-two, Sister Rose Virginia called me to tell me that her Mother had died, and that she was taking her to Cumberland, Maryland to bury her. Her Father was also previously buried in Cumberland, Maryland. Of course, I had to go, but didn't go to Michigan. She had a Funeral Mass in Cumberland. I left immediately after the Mass for my Golden Jubilee with my Sisters to go to Cumberland. We arrived there that evening.
Sister Rose Virginia had arrived shortly before us. We stayed with the Sisters of St. Ursula, who were very good to us. I think we stayed on in Cumberland for a day, and then returned here.
SMCM: What happened with Sister Rose Virginia after that?
SDML: She stayed here for a while for some much needed rest, but then had to return to Michigan to finalize her Mother's business. There was much to be done. She was there for at least a couple of months. Again, it wasn't possible for me to go to be with her, but she had many dear friends among her Mother's acquaintances. They moved right in and helped her. They had a family lawyer who took care of the financial end of things.
Sister Rose Virginia got sick in Michigan. She came back to Greensburg, but she thought that if she could get back to the West where she had been happy, that she would get stronger. She got permission to go West, and
was sent to Chandler, but she wasn't able to do much. She had been diagnosed by a specialist here.in Pennsylvania with leukemia. She knew before the Mother died that she wasn't well, but just didn't take time to look into it. The specialist at Mercy Hospital gave her permission to go to the West. He transferred her to a Doctor in Arizona, and sent her record.
Sister Patricia Marie Stack, who was the Sister Servant at St. Mary's in Chandler, called me in late November or early December to tell me that Sr. Rose Virginia was quite ill, and that she would have to go back to Greensburg. She was flown home to Greensburg shortly before Christmas. The reason I know it was Christmas is that when I went out to see her, she had been caroling the night before with the Sisters. She wasn't really able to do that, but she wanted so much to be a part of it.
She was so happy to be back with the Sisters at Assumption Hall. She was in the Hospital during New Year's that year. I remember talking to her on New Year's Day and telling her that everything was a sheet of ice.
Tape II Side I
SMCM: This is a continuation of the interview being conducted for the Oral History program for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister David Mary Leonard. Sister Marie Corona Miller is the interviewer. It is being conducted at De Paul Institute. The date is October twelfth, nineteen eighty-six.
SDML: Sister Rose Virginia spent a long time in Jeannette Hospital. During that period, !·talked with her on the phone every day. I think Sister Sebastian Jellison must have visited her every day from Assumption Hall. Sister Rose Virginia learned to know Sr. Sebastian and to trust her completely. She confided to her all of her wishes concerning her few little belongings and every detail of her funeral. I remember Sr. Rose Virginia telling me that she wanted the "In Paradisum" in Latin because it flows better than the English translation. . During that time, her Dominican half sister came to visit her from Florida. There was also a cousin who came from Michigan two different times. They stayed at Assumption Hall for several days. Sr. Sebastian took them back and forth to see Sister at the Hospital. Those were highlights of that period while she was in the Hospital. There came a time when I called her and she couldn't talk.
Finally, on March twenty-first, nineteen eighty-four, she died quietly at Assumption Hall. She wanted to die there. Sr. Sebastian called me
immediately to inform me of Sister's death. Someone took me out to Assumption Hall and I stayed there until after the funeral. My sisters and their families came to the funeral.
SMCM: How old was Sister when she died? SDML: I believe that she was fifty-four or fifty-six.
SMCM: Where was she on mission?
SDML: She was missione, d to many places. I remember that she was sent out as a postulant, along with Sister Laverne Cassidy; and Sister Barbara Mary Koval to St. Anselm's in Swissvale. She was also at: St. Stephen's in Hazelwood, St. James in Wilkinsburg, and a couple of western missions.
I remember specifically that she was at St. Catherine's in Tucson. Her last mission out there was in Chandler.
SMCM: I really appreciate you telling us about Sr. Rose Virginia.
SMCM: Sister, is there anything else that you would like to tell us about your Religious life?
SDML: As far as mission life is concerned, I was always happy that I had experience for about a year and a half on a smaller mission before I came to an institution. I think that it made me understand that the life of the other Sisters is different from ours. Since things have changed, the difference is not as big. There was one funny thing that happened here shortly after I came. I was in the classroom at the head of the stairway. I was very new and very green. This priest came to my door and wanted to know if I had a yardstick. I didn't have a yardstick, didn't know where to get one, nor did I know who he was. I found out later that he was the Reverend T. F. Coakley, who was the famous pastor of Sacred Heart Church, and also the first director at De Paul Institute: He had come to measure the niche, where St. Catherine now stands outside the kitchen door. She wasn't there yet. She was being made, and he wanted to measure the niche.
did direct him down the hall to the Principal's office, but I was never allowed to forget that, because Father Coakley was like the name of the saint here. Soon after that, right before Christmas, he came out here to announce that he was resigning his position as Director of De Paul. He didn't feel that he could do justice to De Paul and to Sacred Heart Parish. The Sisters were so distressed about this. It seemed like the end of the world. The Capuchin Priests took care of our spiritual needs. They came for Mass, heard the childrens' confessions, did whatever needed to be
done. Father Coakley still took care of the business end of things. He came often to do this. He brought back academic ideas from the different places he visited. He brought back materials from the original Montessori School. He was determined to make De Paul Institute the largest oral school for the deaf in the world. I think he came pretty close to doing this. He knew that the school was growing, so he felt that the school should be turned over to someone who could devote full time to it. That's when Father Raymond Daugherty was appointed as Director of De Paul.
Another thing that I remember about Father Coakley was that when I came here, the old Annex was just being finished. We called it then "The Primary School." There were four new little classrooms available for whoever was going to use them. Father Coakley came out on the twenty fourth of October to dedicate that building. It was pouring rain. I remember escorting one of our big boys over to that building for the dedication under a large umbrella.
We had many happy times at De Paul. Sisters came and stayed for a long time. I particularly recall what a delight Sister Marie Michael Carroll was, with her Irish brogue, quotations, lady-like manners, etc. She was the essence of refinement. Sister Rose Gertrude Ritzert was a chubby little German from Butler. She played the organ and taught the youngest children.
SMCM: Can you tell us anything about Schwester(German Sister)? SDML: Oh, yes, Sister Rose Gonzaga Wieland. She had charge of the laundry, and sometimes she was in the kitchen. The biggest thing about her was her German trunk. Anything that you ever wanted, you could get from the German trunk....set of candles for the table, or a lovely brass candle holder, or some ribbon, whatever, it didn't matter, she had it, and she was more than willing to share it. She kept her trunk down near the laundry. She was very good about holidays. She liked to celebrate. She would do anything for anyone.
SMCM: How long was Sr. Rose Gonzaga at De Paul?
SDML: Oh, a long time. I wouldn't estimate how long. She left De Paul for a while and went to one of the missions. I think it was to St. Luke's. She must have returned here, because I can remember her being carried out of here to her death bed on St. Patrick's Day, nineteen sixty-six. She died on March twenty-fourth, so she was close to death when they removed her from De Paul. Her big concern was that she was spoiling Sister Bridgetta
Fitzpatrick's birthday party. That's the kind of person that she was. SMCM: Sister Bridgetta was the Sister Servant then.
SDML; Was she? Maybe she went to the hospital with Sister.
SMCM: She did.
SDML: Were you here then? SMCM: Yes.
SDML: Well, that explains that then.
Sr. Rose Gonzaga had one very close friend here in the city. She called her Cunni.....CunegLinda was probably her name....Cunegunda Koett.
Once in a great while, Cunni would have Sr. Rose Gonzaga to her home. One time, Sister took me as companion. They served a heavy, rich soup first. I ate the soup, and thought that was the meal. That was just the introduction. Then they came with more and more of whatever. It ended with cheese cake. It was the first time I had ever eaten cheese cake. It was home made. That was the nearest thing that Sister had to family, besides the German Sisters in the Community, whom she didn't get to see very often.
SMCM: Did she ever go back to Germany?
SDML: She went back at least once to Studtgard. When she came back, she said: "Ve had to stay over night in Paris." We all said: "Oh, you poor thing!" That was a great event...getting ready for that.
SMCM: What about some of the other Sisters, like Sister Maureen Coggers?
SDML: Sister Maureen Coggers was a very efficient bookkeeper during her stay here at De Paul: She wasn't here very long.
Sister Benedicta Sharp was what we called 'The Boys' Angel." She would have defended those boys with her life. She and Sister Mary Lois Highland worked well together. During another period of time here, there were other people in that position. Sister M. Liguori Steinmiller was here for a while as the boys' angel.
SMCM: When did Sister Marie Andrea Dedig come?
SDML: I don't remember dates clearly, but she probably followed Sister Liguori. Didn't Sr. Marie Andrea come directly here after she made her vows or after she got the black cap? I think she did. I don't believe that she was ever anywhere else. She dedicated· herself completely to the boys, and their welfare, and the baseball team.
SMCM: What nurses were here during your time at De Paul?
SDML: Sister M. Aquinata Moore was in charge of the infirmary when I came. I think she was a Practical Nurse. The infirmary was one small cupboard outside the Sacristy. She was also the Sacristan, so she had charge of the Sacristy. There was no Infirmary room. If she had to take care of one of the girls, she did it right there in the hallway. There was a small Infirmary room upstairs with three little cots. If someone was really sick, they were put in there. She also had a cupboard over on the other side for the boys, and she went over each day to tend to any needs.
SMCM: How long was Sr. Aquinata there? SDML: I'm not sure, possibly three to five years.
SMCM: Who followed Sr. Aquinata?
SDML: It was probably Sister Alice Elizabeth Nolan. I can't remember anyone in between.
SMCM: What about Sister Agnes Teresa Mclane? Wasn't she at De Paul twice?
SDML: She had two turns here, and I don't know if one of them was before
Sister Alice Elizabeth.
You know who else was here briefly was Sister Agnes Joseph Hines. SMCM: I think that Sr. Agnes Teresa was here before Sr. Alice Elizabeth. SDML: That's probably correct....then after Sr. Alice Elizabeth the second time she was here.
SMCM: Can you tell us about the kitchen? Didn't someone in your group work in the kitchen?
SDML: Yes, Sister Teresa Marie Jenkins came here after she lost some of her fingers in an accident at Seton Hill. She was more or less recuperating when she first came. She gradually got well and she worked hard in the kitchen for several years. She was eventually in charge of the kitchen.
There was another Sister here at one time in the kitchen....Sister M. Dominic Wivell. She was here for a while.
Another Sister who was here briefly after she retired was Sister Mary Florence Hickey. She had been a teacher, but she came here to take charge of the children's dining room. She died here in the boys' house.
SMCM: Did she serve in the dining room?
18
SDML: I don't think she served. She didn't know the children. She just took care of the dining room generally.
SMCM: Several of the Sisters died here, didn't they?
SDML: Sister Emmanuel Drake died here. That was the greatest shock! · She was getting ready to go to the Easter Retreat the next day. On Holy Saturday morning, she had polished the main hall, with the help of one of the boys. By Noon that day she was dying. She died in the early part of
the afternoon on Holy Saturday. She was just forty-six years old. She was a very active person. She took part in everything that we had here. We had just celebrated her Silver Jubilee back in February of the same year.
SMCM: How long was Sr. Emmanuel at De Paul?
SDML: I think she spent most of, if not all of her Community life here. I think she was older when she entered, maybe twenty-one. I think she · taught before she entered, but don't believe she was ever on any other mission. She played the piano by ear. She loved to put on plays. I remember on St. Patrick's Day when we were still having silence for breakfast, that she got permission to play the piano in the school hall while we were coming down to breakfast. She was always wanting to celebrate something. Sister M. Adelaide Ford had charge of the "Baking House" at Seton Hill, and she was Sister Emmanuel's dear frjend. They had entered together. Sr. Emmanual made Sister Adelaide a complete, new habit for her Jubilee, even down to a new handkerchief for her pocket. She had great joy in doing that. The people here put on a play for her Jubilee. ·It was really elaborate. It was the story of Prince Galitzen, and she loved that. She was very history minded. I should tell you that Prince Galitzen, known as Father Smith, said Mass in the home of one of my Great, Great Grandfathers. My Grandmother told me that. Western Maryland was part of his territory.
SDML: This Summer, Sr. Mary Antonio's niece came to visit. She had never been back to Pittsburgh since she was a young girl. She now lives in Florida. She was the daughter of Sr. Marie Antonio's sister. Those of us who remembered her went down to talk to her. I said to her: "Do you have one of the statues which was a souvenir of Sr. Marie Antonio's Jubilee?" She said: "No, I don't." I said: "I have one, and I'm going to give it to you." She was just delighted to have that, and after she went back to Florida, she wrote to me and thanked me again. She went through the Academy when we had it, and was present when the College was Incorporated in nineteen
seventeen, I think it was.
There were many Sisters who have come and stayed for a while and have gone. Sister Sophie Gloss was here for a while, Sister Jeannette Weisman was here for quite a while.
Tape Two Side Two
SDML: Other Sisters were: Sister Mary Francis Irvin, Sister Mary Kevin Kerrigan, Sr. Marie Michael Carroll, Sister Mary Ann McAfee spent most of her life here, except for one brief period when she was out on one of the other missions, Sister M. Dionysius Henry was here for two different terms...one before I came, and later when she was really not well.
SMCM: What did Sister Dionysius do, Sister?
SDML: She was in charge of the boys. I can't remember if she was well enough to be with the boys the second time she returned.
Sister Mary James Brownlee had been here for some time before I came. believe she was here specifically to be the Sister Servant.
SMCM: That's what I was going to ask you. I understand that the period of time when Sr. Marie Antonio and Sr. Teresa Vincent were both here, that there was another Sister here who was acting as Sister Servant.
Sr. Marie Arthur: This issue is being repeated. It has already been recorded that Sr. M. Bernadette Hayes was the Sister Servant at De Paul while Sr. Marie Antonio was on the Council.
SDML: In January of Nineteen Fifty-Seven Sr. Marie Antonio and Sr. Teresa Vincent left, at which time, Sister Helen Louise Connelly was made Sister Servant and Principal. After Sr. Helen Louise, Sister M. Bridgetta Fitzpatrick was Principal and Sister Servant, followed by Sister M. Justina Dreistadt as Sister Servant and Sister Philomena Mannion as Principal.
SMCM: Did you also have Sister Leocadia in the kitchen for a while? SDML: Oh, yes, Sister Leocadia Mulholland. She was a great baker of pecan rolls.
SMCM: Where did she come from?
SDML: She came from Carnegie. I taught her niece at St. Luke's. She has a sister living in Brookline. She had several brothers and at least one sister. She was a wonderful cook and a great manager. Dorothy Jackson,
who was Sister John Joseph Weber's sister, and who came here under Sr. Leocadia, and later had to take over, said that Sr. Leocadia taught her everything that she ever knew about cooking.
SMCM: Whose place did Sr. Leocadia take?
SDML: I suspect that Sr. Leocadia followed Sr. Teresa Marie Jenkins. Sr. Leocadia was here for quite a while.
SMCM: Is there anyone else that you can recall?
SDML: Sister Miriam Ruth Clark used to always tell us that her aunt, Sister Marie Aloysia Schreiber had been here some time back. I knew that the older deaf people talked about her. She spent a number of years at De · Paul. Also, Sister Agnes Dougherty was here and was well thought of, but she left here and went to St. Luke's, and she was equally well liked there. She taught the older children. Some of them who have gone out to Greensburg for funerals for other Sisters, like Sister Fiorita McGrory, have visited Sister Agnes in the Infirmary.
SMCM: Did Sister Fiorita McGrory and Sister Rose Xavier Garrity come together?
SDML: They came together in the same year. Sr. Rose Xavier was older in age, but Sr. Fiorita was already in the Community. Sr. Fiorita entered in Nineteen Fifteen, and Sr. Rose Xavier worked for a number of years in a bank. They lived together here for many years. Sr. Rose Xavier had charge of the Boy Scouts, and Sr. Fiorita had charge of the Girl Scouts.
Anything concerning the boys, Sr. Rose Xavier took care of, e.g. The Holy Name Society, and anything pertaining to the girls Sr. Fiorita handled e.g.
The Sodality. Sister Mary Linus Hoag was the third one of that team. They were a great team! Now we have Sr. Mary Linus's nephew on our faculty...Tom Hoag. At one point, Sr. Mary Linus left here for a year or so, because she had a very serious sinus condition. Someone thought that going to the West might help her. It did help her physically, but she missed De Paul. So she came back after a year or two and brought Sister Helen Louise Connelly with her. Sr . Helen Louise had been out there for a number of years and I never knew how it happened, but we always teased Sr. Mary Linus about getting Sr. Helen Louise for De Paul.
SMCM: Sister David Mary; weren't you instrumental in teaching the deaf to
communicate via wire?
SDML: Well, I suppose so, but the instruments were given to me by the alumni. The one they gave me was an old PTY (sounds like they're saying, can't tell). It was a monster of a thing! It sounded like judgement day!
However, it was a great benefit to the deaf people. What you did was attach the receiver of your phone to a cuppler, which in turn was attached to the PTY instrument. Then you dialed your number on the regular phone, which had to be connected with this instrument. Then the phone would ring in the deaf person's home and he or she had it rigged up to a light, so that when the light flashed, they knew the phone was ringing. Then he picked up his receiver and attached it to his instrument and we typed messages back and forth to each other. The first one that we had literally was a PTY. It was an old adapted tele typewriter which a deaf physicist, who was not from Pittsburgh, figured out a way to attach this typewriter to a telephone so that deaf people could communicate by telephone wires, but without hearing. Messages on the older models appeared on rolls of paper. The messages appear on screens on the newer models. (I couldn't make out the acronym letters for the newer models....sounds like TVD...which stands for Television V (can't determine) for the Deaf. The Alumni gave me two of the newer models for my Fiftieth Jubilee.
SMCM: Is there anything else that you would like to say about your work at De Paul?
SDML: It has been very gratifying. I've always been happy that I was sent here. Had I been consulted, I might not have known what to say.
SMCM: At the present time, what are you doing?
SDML: At the present time, I'm the school psychologist, but working for just a half day. I'm training a young man who has been on our staff for a number of years, to do my work. He's also taking courses at Duquesne University toward certification in Psychology. That's working out very well.
SMCM: Are there any comments that you would like to make regarding changes in the Community and in the Church?
SDML: I'm very hopeful on both counts. I feel that there is a considerable amount of unrest in the Church, there is some rebellion being shown, but I think in the end, that the Rock of Peter is still there, and it's going to come out right. In the Community, I believe that we are learning to live with diversity. I think that's good. I have my reservations about some angles of
it, but that's alright too.
SMCM: What do you think about the Faculty staffing of the school in light of having fewer Sisters?
SDML: We have very fine lay people, and they are very dedicated to the work here. I feel that they are going to have more and more control of the school unless we get some Sisters. Our youngest Sisters are not really young. I can accept having more lay people, but would like it to stay in the hands of the Sisters.
SMCM: Well Sister Mary David, I appreciate you taking the time to provide the Community with this important information, and the Community is also grateful.
Sr. Marie Arthur: I completed the transcription of this oral history on Sister David Mary Leonard on June Fourth, Two Thousand Thirteen.
71-1 Sr. David Mary Leonard Tape I Side I
This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister David Mary Leonard. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at De Paul Institute. The date is October twelfth, nineteen eighty-six.
SMCM: Good morning, Sr. David Mary. Sister, I'm very happy to be here with you today to talk about your personal history.
SDML: Good morning, Sister. I was born Kathleen Leonard, January twenty-third, nineteen fifteen in Cumberland, Maryland. My Father, David Leonard, was the youngest of twelve children, born to Adam and Emma Clarr Leonard in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He had come to Cumberland as a young man and he met my Mother there. Her name was Edna Mason. She was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph Mason and Rose Mattingly Mason. Rose was a descendant of the original Mattingly’s who came to Southern Maryland with Lord Baltimore. There were three brothers. They settled...one in Ohio, one in Maryland, and one in Kentucky. My Grandmother told me that I would never meet a Mattingly who was not descended from one of those three. My Grandmother had a sister who entered the Seton Hill Sisters of Charity..Sister Louis Regina Mattingly. Sister died at a very young age in eighteen ninety after being in the Community for just four years. Her sister, Emma Mattingly, went to Kansas and entered the Ursuline Community there. My Mother's youngest sister, Lucy, followed her to Kansas. She is still living there. She is Sister Rosemary Mason. My Father, the youngest of twelve, never had the opportunity to attend a Catholic School. Both families were farm families.
His family produced five Granddaughters to the Religious Life four
Sisters of Charity and one to the Ursuline Community in Paoli, Kansas. His sister, Emma became a Visitation Nun in Georgetown, Kentucky. I grew up in St. Patrick's Parish in Cumberland, Maryland. I went to St. Patrick's Grade School where I was taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame. went to the High School there also which was upstairs. It was a very small school. My graduating class consisted of fifteen girls. The boys left after sixth grade and went across the yard to La Salle Institute which was conducted by the Christian Brothers. I can't remember anytime that I was not planning to be a Sister. It was always assumed that I would be a School Sister of Notre Dame because they were the only Sisters that I
really knew. I knew about these relatives, but they were all sort of out there somewhere. There were Daughters of Charity in the town, but they were Hospital Sisters. I didn't know that they worked jn schools until much later. My Mother very wisely arranged for me to meet some of these Sister relatives from different places so that I would have a wider choice. Among
the trips which she planned was one to Greensburg-. It was after my
Sophomore year. I visited Sister Marie Elizabeth Leonard, Sister Jean Marie Leonard, and Sister Rita Mary Leonard, all of whom were first cousins. When I was in my Senior year, I was still going to be a School Sister of Notre Dame, but sometime in the Spring of that year, I made a retreat, during which I learned that I really belonged to Seton Hill. So, I wrote to the Mother Superior not knowing her name. She invited me to come to visit. I visited on June nineteenth. There had been no contact with the cousins. When I went to visit, Sr. Marie Elizabeth met me at the door. Mother Eveline Fisher had turned over my letter to Sister Theodosia Murtha, who was the Mistress of Novices. Sr. Theodosia then invited Sr. Marie Elizabeth. That was my offici I petitioning day. I found out later that it was .the anniversary of Sr. Louis Regina Mattingly's death.
SMCM: What year was that, Sister?
SDML: It was nineteen thirty-two. It was immediately after my graduation from High School. I was accepted and told to prepare- for September eighth. I spent the Summer trying to get my wardrobe together. Since I wasn't near any of the Sisters, it was like hit and miss, because I was trying to get the items on the clothes list. The School Sisters of Notre Dame were very gracious. They helped, and they ordered some things for me. So, I came to Greensburg on September eighth. My Father and my Brother and I left Cumberland at something like four o'clock in the morning by train and went to Connellsville. My cousin from Greensburg met us there. He took us to his home for breakfast. It was still only about eight o'clock in the morning. It was too early to go up to Seton Hill. Finally, we went up. Sr. Marie Elizabeth couldn't be there to take care of me because she was teaching. She delegated Sister Margaret Ann Hanley to put my lace cap on. She took me up to the Blessed Mother's altar. I left my
Father and my Brother. I went up to the Novitiate and was ushered into the Senior Novitiate to help tie knots in haps. We would call them quilts or comforts, but they called them haps.
SMCM: What time did you enter? Were you the first one?
SDML: I think it was about ten o'clock in the morning. I think I may have been, but there were a couple of others there by lunch time. Sister Marie Celeste Cuzzolina and Sister Inez Mary Beckel came from Altoona. Sister Teresina Bridges, Sister Rosina Highland, Sister Miriam Ann Eck and Sister (couldn't get the name) came from Johnstown. The rest came in the afternoon. My biggest surprise was that Sister Theodosia was young and beautiful. I expected her to be old and cranky. By the evening meal everyone was there. Mother Richard Ann Watson, Sister Olivia Hamilton, Sister Maura Walsh, Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt, Sister Teresa Marie Jenkins, Sister Naomi Walsh, Sister Mary Timothy Adams, Sister John Joseph Weber, Sister Marie de Sales Clougherty, and Sister Mary Frederick Blatt. There were seventeen, and we became known as the" Notorius Seventeen." We had a good time, we learned a great deal, we worked hard, and we tried hard to pray. Some of the College teachers came over to the Novitiate from the very beginning and gave us classes.
We had courses like...The History of Education, The Fundamentals of Education, and valuable things like that. Sister Francesca Brownlee, and Sister Teresa Clare Kernan were the main teachers. Sister Agnes Francina Kearney was in charge of the sewing room. Sister Ann Regina Sweeney had us for Choir. She had tryouts to determine eligibility. Sister Cecilia Clare Ott helped us to make our first habit. That was difficult, because most of us couldn't sew at all. We had a very interesting and busy postulancy which lasted only until January first. We received the habit and the white cap on January first, nineteen thirty-three. Then we had our canonical year which was mostly spiritual development. If we had any courses from the College, they would have been Religion classes.
SMCM: Was Mother Evelyn at the head of the Community at this time? SDML: Yes, it was the beginning of her second term in Office. Sister Marie Antonio Mclinden, who was at De Paul Institute some time-later was the Assistant Mother on the Council. Sister Victorine Ellsworth was the Treasurer, and Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub was the Procurator. That was the Council in those days.
At the end of that year, January first, nineteen thirty-four, we received the black cap. Most of us were assigned to Missions. Sister Mary Frederick and I were not missioned. We were told that we were going to school. In the meantime, Sister Carolyn Lager had broken her leg at St. Philip's in Crafton. Instead of going to school, I was sent to Crafton to replace her.
Sister Mary Frederick was also sent somewhere, but I don't remember where. Anyhow, we didn't get to go to school until some time later. I was sent to teach Sr. Carolyn's fourth grade temporarily for five weeks. Sister Angela Sullivan was the Principal and Sister Servant. She was very stern, but kind. She was in my classroom every day. - She just sat quietly in the back, keeping discipline I imagine. When Sister Carolyn returned, I was then needed at St. Anselm's in Swissvale. I substituted there for one week for Sister M. Gabriel McGivern, who had gone to visit her sister, who was. at Mt. Hope. When Sister Gabriel returned, I substituted for Sister Mary Patrick Donovan for the following week in the fifth grade, which was also at St. Anselm's. By that time it was Lent. I remember going to St. Luke's in Carnegie. Someone from St. Anselm's escorted me to Carnegie via train or streetcar. I was first put into the High School at St. Luke's to replace Sister Mary Henry Hanse who was off duty. After a few weeks there., Sister Agnes Marie Reuber, who was the Sister Servant and Principal of the High School and Grade School said to me: "Do you think you're a High School teacher?" I said: "I don't know, Sister." She said: "Well, you're not! Sister Mary Henry is back, and she will take her classes. So, you will go across the street to the seventh grade where someone else is off duty." I went over there and did my best in that seventh grade for the rest of the school year. I loved those children and everything about it. I returned to St.
Luke's in August, which would have been August of nineteen thirty-four for another full year in that seventh grade. It was during that year that I taught Sister Camillus Erb- .·- At the end of that year, I would have been happy to come back to Carnegie forever, but it wasn't to be that way. In the meantime, there were three of us there who were preparing for Vows. As of January First, nineteen thirty-four, we were to pronounce our Vows for the first time. During that first semester, Sr. Agnes Marie Reuber, who was Sister Servant and Principal of both the grade and high school, nevertheless took us every Wednesday evening for a study of the Vow manual.
SMCM: Sister, who were the three Sisters preparing for Vows?
SDML: They were: Sister Teresa Marie Jenkins, Sister M. Naomi Walsh and myself. We were right next to each other in the Community. We slept up on the top floor, what we called the Attic, four of us in a room. I don't remember who the fourth Sister was. I remember once having a very bad cold, and Sr. Agnes Marie trudged up those steps to rub my chest. I got
better fast! She was a very strong woman and forceful. She was a good, holy, woman. When she said something, it was said, and you did it. Sr. Agnes Marie also taught German in the High School.
That Christmas, we went back to Seton Hill, to prepare for Vows, by making what was called the "Christmas Retreat." Then on January First, we pronounced our Vows. At that time, they were annual Vows. That was a big event. We knelt up in the front of the Chapel, and we said our Vows together between the two elevations of the Mass. Mother Eveline Fisher and Sister Marie Antonio Mclinden knelt up there with us to receive our Vows. Then we went back to Carnegie for the remainder of that year.
When I left Carnegie, I had no thought about being transferred. Of course, we knew that we were always subject to being changed. When the mission list came out, it just happened to be the day that I was leaving for my first-visit home. My parents came to get me. We rode over night. I learned that I was going to De Paul Institute, which meant very little to me. I knew that Sister Inez Mary Beckel, who is in my group was at De Paul for a year, but I still knew very little about it. She was very excited about my coming to De Paul. I had never known any deaf people, except an Aunt and Uncle of a classmate of mine. I'm sure they were old time, deaf, who never learned any speech, and I was afraid of it. I went willingly and found
myself happy to be there. Immediately, Sr. Marie Antonio, who was still on the Council, came to visit. She wanted to know how I liked it. I already was sold on it completely.
SMCM: Who was the Sister Servant?
SDML: Sister M. Bernadette Hayes was the Sister Servant in the absence of Sr. Marie Antonio. She really had never worked here, but she was sent here during the six years that Sr. Marie Antonio was on the Council. Sister Teresa Vincent Mahoney was the Principal. The Sisters here were: Sister Marie Michael Carroll, Sister Rose Gertrude Ritzert, Sister Emmanuel Manning, Sister Benedicta Sharp, (Sr. Benedicta had charge of the boys), Sister Mary Lois Highland, (Sr. Mary Lois had charge of the girls}, Sister Ethelreda Merz, Sister Teresa Mary Lacey, Sister M. Bridgetta Fitzpatrick, Sister Rose Xavier Garrity, Sister Mary Linus Hoag, Sister M. Fiorita McGrory, and Sister Inez Mary Beckel.
SMCM: How many Sisters were there?
SDML: I think there were about fifteen. I'm not remembering all of them
because people were coming and going all the time. They were all very kind to me.
I was assigned to observe Sister Rose Gertrude in the Primary Department. The youngest children we had were about seven years old. spent some time each day with Sr. Rose Gertrude, and then some time with Sr. Mary Linus at the next level. I also spent some time with Sr.
Teresa Vincent, who, in addition to being Principal, was still trying to teach some classes. Time was spent too with Sr. Emmanuel and with Sr. Rose Xavier. Eventually, I had my first class, which was middle school children. They were about twelve years old. When Sister Emmanuel died in nineteen forty, I moved into the upper level, where I spent most of my time until I was made School Psychologist. We were still Novices even though we had made Vows once until we had completed five years. I don't know why, but five years and three months was the exact time. On December eighth, nineteen thirty-seven, we were officially professed Sisters. There was no ceremony connected with it. We just no longer reported to the Novitiate. During those five years, every time we went back to Greensburg, we were Senior Novices. We were still under Sister Theodosia Murtha.
SMCM: Did you have to go back to Seton Hill every Summer?
SDML: I went back the first two Summers, but I don't think we went back every Summer.
SMCM: Did you go to school?
SDML: We went to school. We took classes in the College.
I remember one Summer when Mother M. Eveline Fisher was the Mother Superior and she said: "You went to school last Winter. So, you can spend the Summer in the laundry." I had gone to Duquesne from De Paul on Saturdays and took a class or two. I did then work in the lower part of the laundry mangling sheets, and taking charge of the Novices who came to the laundry to help.
SMCM: Sister, who was in charge of the laundry at that time?
SDML: I think that Sister M. Aloise White was still there, but maybe Sister Ruth Cecilia Giseburt was there by that time, but I don't think so. In any case, that was my part. I enjoyed it. I got a lot of reading done that Summer, didn't have to study, and that was very nice. Then after that, I didn't go back to Seton Hill in the Summers. I went to school at Duquesne and at St. John's Liberty Avenue where the Community had classes for the
Sisters on Saturdays. I never matriculated at Duquesne, I just took courses there. After Sr. Emmanuel died suddenly the Easter of nineteen forty, I was sent to Pitt. I went there with about sixty-seven credits, most of which were from Seton Hill, and some from Duquesne.
Tape I Side II
SMCM: Sister, you were talking about your education.
SDML: Yes. I started at the University of Pittsburgh the Summer of nineteen forty. I went there part time until January of nineteen forty-five when I graduated. I got my degree in Education with concentration on Psychology, and also in Geography. The Summer of nineteen forty-five, I was sent to Catholic University to work on a graduate level. Again, I majored in Education with a Minor in Religious Education. I spent six happy, very hard working Summers there. I graduated from Catholic University in nineteen fifty with a Master's Degree.
SMCM: Sister, is that when our Sister Maurice McManama was there? SDML: Yes, I was there with Sister Maurice most of those years. She was very kind. She knew the ropes...the campus, etc. In fact, I took one course from her there. Every Summer there were several of our Sisters there, but I can't remember exactly in what order they came, or who were there which Summers. I know that Sister Mary Agnes Schildkamp and Sister Rebecca Kelsey were there for at least one Summer. Sister Deborah Kelly was there while I was there. Several Sisters from De Paul were there different Summers.
I took the following year off from Study. In the Summer of nineteen fifty two, I was sent to Northwestern University for nine or ten weeks. I returned to Northwestern the Summers of nineteen fifty-three and fifty-four. At Northwestern University, I worked toward requirements needed for State certification in the Education of the Deaf. I didn't receive a degree from Northwestern. That was all Post Master's work. Then I went back to Duquesne University part time. I took special courses which were needed for certification.
During those years of schooling, I acquired Certification in Elementary Education, Education of the Deaf, Speech Therapy, and finally in School Psychology. In the meantime, I had been teaching here at De Paul continuously. I remained in full time teaching until nineteen seventy, at . which time I was given part time as to work on School Psychology. In
January, nineteen fifty-seven, when Sr. Teresa Vincent left here and Sister Helen Louise Connelly was made Principal; I was asked to take charge of the testing program. I was doing that while teaching full time for several years. Finally, in nineteen seventy-four, I was relieved from the classroom completely and given full time in the clinic. During those years, I worked closely with the Alumni. I had taught older children most of the time, so it was natural that I would keep in touch with them. We had an organized program going, and a Newsletter. It is still a very active on-going thing.
They don't have organized meetings, but we still have the Newsletter, and they come to class re-unions.
Sr. Marie Antonio returned here in the Fall of nineteen thirty-six, having completed her six years on the Council. She became the local Sister Servant at that time I believe. Sr. Teresa Vincent remained Principal.
There were times when Sr. Teresa Vincent also seemed to be Sister Servant. They relieved each other on occasion, but Sr. Marie Antonio was always in the background. She was always at the top because she had been one of the original Founding Sisters back in nineteen hundred eight.
SMCM: Who else was with Sr. Marie Antonio back in nineteen eight? SDML: There was a Sister Martha. I can't remember who the third one was. Two of them didn't stay in the work, but Sr. Marie Antonio did. In the early years at De Paul, we got back to Seton Hill just for retreat. As cars became more common, we were able to get there more often. When more of the Sisters became drivers, it became even more possible.
The Sisters making renovation spent several Summers here at De Paul. We always had Sisters who were studying at Duquesne living here in the Summer.
SMCM: What was your experience like living with the children when you first came to De Paul?
SDML: That was very interesting. We lived in a dormitory, those of us who lived on the girls' side. You had a curtained corner with a very small stand and a cupboard somewhere out in the hall where you could hang your habit. You waited until the girls were in bed so that you could use the bathroom. If anyone got sick or anything like that during the night, you were responsible. Eventually, I graduated to a semi-private room. There were two of us in a room which was so small that if one person was saying their prayers, the other couldn't pass until she got up. I remember it being
that way with Sister McClory. The Sisters who lived on the boys' side had little rooms between the dormitories. They had a window opening to the dormitory so that if they heard anything unusual, they could look through the window before going out. Those were interesting years. I don't remember having too much disturb us during the night. I think that I was so tired that I wouldn't have heard it. We taught all day. Every teacher had evening study hour with her class. The Angels ( Sisters who had charge of the children outside of school) had to be relieved for an hour in the evening so that they could pray. Some of us had to help the children to get ready for bed. The children were here even on the week-ends in those days.
SMCM: Were there a lot of children in residence in those days?
SDML: Everyone was in residence. The only ones who were not in residence, to my recollection, were two boys who lived in Brookline. They were permitted to go home. It was customary in Schools For the Deaf to keep all the children in residence. I think the reasoning was so that the teachers could have more access to them, but we learned gradually later on that the children needed their families as much as or more than they needed the school. So, we worked toward getting to be day pupils, but that was a long process.
SMCM: Did you have dining room duty, Sister?
SDML: Yes, the children were all seated and served. There were two Sisters on duty in that Dining Room...one on each end. We all took turns doing this.
SMCM: You also took part in the program at Edgewood, didn't you? SDML: Oh, yes. I don't remember which years, but at least two or three years, I went out there every Monday after school here and we met those children. At bed time they were not allowed to be taught. We were not allowed to teach them Religion in their own school. A couple of Catholic teachers walked the children down to St. James school in Wilkinsburg where we met them. We used all of the classrooms in St. James School for an hour after school.
SMCM: How long did that Monday night program go on?
SDML: It went on for a long time. It started out being a Sunday morning
program. I remember Sisters as far back as Sister Mary Linus, Sister Teresa Vincent meeting the children after Mass to teach them Religion.
SMCM: Why did they change it?
SDML: I don't know. I don't remember the reasoning, but the second phase was the Monday after school thing. The third phase was: A couple of Sisters by that time, we were down to one or two, went to the school itself to meet the children. The program still goes on, but I believe all of the teachers are lay teachers.
SMCM: What group of children did you have when you helped?
SDML: I had the oldest children. When one of the priests was there, I believe it was Father Daugherty, he took the oldest group, and I had the second oldest. When Father wasn't there, I had the oldest. It was difficult work, because the children were used to people signing to them. We didn't do that. I met some very nice people there. One of the boys, whom I taught, later married one of our girls. That couple has kept in close touch with me. .
Another thing that we did was go to Canonsburg to a place called Morganza. I think it has a different name now. It was a school for delinquents. There were some deaf children there. A couple of us went out there for a while to teach them lip reading. It was for a short time, but it was another interesting experience.
SMCM: Was that after school?
SDML: I have a feeling that it was on Sundays.
SDML: On May fifteenth, in nineteen forty-nine, Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers went from mission to mission to receive the Sisters' Perpetual Vows. Up until that time, of course, we had been under Annual Vows.
When Mother Rose Genevieve came to De Paul, we were all assembled in the Chapel, which is presently the Library. It was a very solemn moment.
A lay person was taking care of the phone here. During that time, there was a phone call for me. When the ceremony was over, I was given the message to call Mary Halloran. I had the vague notion that Mary Halloran was the daughter of my mother's first cousin, who I knew lived in Pittsburgh. I called Mary, and she told me that she was interested in becoming a Sister of Charity. She was my second cousin. My Grandmother and her Grandfather had been brother and sister. Her
mother had married a Pittsburgh man and had come here to live, so I probably only met her once that I could remember. Mary Halloran had been in our Sisters school in Brushton, in Father Black's parish until it closed. Eight years later, she wanted to enter. She looked me up because her Mother remembered that I was in Pittsburgh.
SMCM: What was the name of that parish?
SDML: Most Blessed Sacrament. It had been called Marian at one time, but got to be called just Father Black's. Mary wanted to be a Sister like one she had remembered from her early years in grade school. Mary's family went to an Italian parish after that, I believe it was Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Then she went to a Public High School and worked for four years before realizing that she wanted to become a Sister of Charity. Her Mother, her Aunt and I got into the act to put her in touch with me.
She entered in September of nineteen forty-nine.
Five years later, Rosemary Corwin, who lived in Jackson, Michigan, and was the daughter of my Aunt, my first cousin really by adoption, wanted to enter our Community. When she talked to me about it, I said: "Well, you know it's a long distance between Michigan and Greensburg. You won't get home very often." She was determined that this was what she wanted.
SMCM: Sister, could you tell us a little bit about Sister Rose Virginia (Rosemary Corwin)?
SDML: Her Mother had died when she was only two years old. Her Father,
who had several other children, was not able to provide for her. The Pastor at the parish asked my Aunt to take this little girl. My Aunt and her second husband (her first husband had died) were more than willing to take this little girl. They enjoyed rearing her. She went to the Catholic schools in Michigan, first to the Dominican Sisters for grade school, then to the Cincinnati Sisters of Charity for high school. She had met me once or twice when she was small, so she decided that she would like to become a Greensburg Sister of Charity. Meantime, she had gone through college and had spent some time at Catholic University.
SMCM: What was her field?
SDML: It was Education. She was a teacher for several years before she entered. She finally came to see me in Greensburg. It was nineteen fifty four, the Marian Year. She was accepted for September eighth. I didn't
see much of her in between times. She entered on September eighth, nineteen fifty-four. Both of Sister Rose Virginia's parents became invalids. There was no-one to take care of them. The Community gave Sister permission to go to Michigan to care for them. The Father died. After that, they sold their home and moved the Mother into an apartment. Sister had to stay with her.
SMCM: Didn't Sister also teach at this time?
SDML: She also taught at St. Mary's School with the Cincinnati Sisters of Charity. At one point, she taught at Queen's School, which is a Dominican School. She came back for one year and worked in Johnstown, but then she had to go back to Michigan again. When she went back, she took a part time job as a Librarian at St. Mary's. She had a person who stayed with her Mother during the hours when she was at the Library.
SMCM: How long did she do this?
SDML: I would say it was five or six years. Her Mother became weaker and weaker. Sister knew that she wasn't going to have her Mother much longer, but she didn't go to the Hospital as there really wasn't anything they could do. Three days before my Jubilee Celebration at Seton Hill,
in nineteen eighty-two, Sister Rose Virginia called me to tell me that her Mother had died, and that she was taking her to Cumberland, Maryland to bury her. Her Father was also previously buried in Cumberland, Maryland. Of course, I had to go, but didn't go to Michigan. She had a Funeral Mass in Cumberland. I left immediately after the Mass for my Golden Jubilee with my Sisters to go to Cumberland. We arrived there that evening.
Sister Rose Virginia had arrived shortly before us. We stayed with the Sisters of St. Ursula, who were very good to us. I think we stayed on in Cumberland for a day, and then returned here.
SMCM: What happened with Sister Rose Virginia after that?
SDML: She stayed here for a while for some much needed rest, but then had to return to Michigan to finalize her Mother's business. There was much to be done. She was there for at least a couple of months. Again, it wasn't possible for me to go to be with her, but she had many dear friends among her Mother's acquaintances. They moved right in and helped her. They had a family lawyer who took care of the financial end of things.
Sister Rose Virginia got sick in Michigan. She came back to Greensburg, but she thought that if she could get back to the West where she had been happy, that she would get stronger. She got permission to go West, and
was sent to Chandler, but she wasn't able to do much. She had been diagnosed by a specialist here.in Pennsylvania with leukemia. She knew before the Mother died that she wasn't well, but just didn't take time to look into it. The specialist at Mercy Hospital gave her permission to go to the West. He transferred her to a Doctor in Arizona, and sent her record.
Sister Patricia Marie Stack, who was the Sister Servant at St. Mary's in Chandler, called me in late November or early December to tell me that Sr. Rose Virginia was quite ill, and that she would have to go back to Greensburg. She was flown home to Greensburg shortly before Christmas. The reason I know it was Christmas is that when I went out to see her, she had been caroling the night before with the Sisters. She wasn't really able to do that, but she wanted so much to be a part of it.
She was so happy to be back with the Sisters at Assumption Hall. She was in the Hospital during New Year's that year. I remember talking to her on New Year's Day and telling her that everything was a sheet of ice.
Tape II Side I
SMCM: This is a continuation of the interview being conducted for the Oral History program for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister David Mary Leonard. Sister Marie Corona Miller is the interviewer. It is being conducted at De Paul Institute. The date is October twelfth, nineteen eighty-six.
SDML: Sister Rose Virginia spent a long time in Jeannette Hospital. During that period, !·talked with her on the phone every day. I think Sister Sebastian Jellison must have visited her every day from Assumption Hall. Sister Rose Virginia learned to know Sr. Sebastian and to trust her completely. She confided to her all of her wishes concerning her few little belongings and every detail of her funeral. I remember Sr. Rose Virginia telling me that she wanted the "In Paradisum" in Latin because it flows better than the English translation. . During that time, her Dominican half sister came to visit her from Florida. There was also a cousin who came from Michigan two different times. They stayed at Assumption Hall for several days. Sr. Sebastian took them back and forth to see Sister at the Hospital. Those were highlights of that period while she was in the Hospital. There came a time when I called her and she couldn't talk.
Finally, on March twenty-first, nineteen eighty-four, she died quietly at Assumption Hall. She wanted to die there. Sr. Sebastian called me
immediately to inform me of Sister's death. Someone took me out to Assumption Hall and I stayed there until after the funeral. My sisters and their families came to the funeral.
SMCM: How old was Sister when she died? SDML: I believe that she was fifty-four or fifty-six.
SMCM: Where was she on mission?
SDML: She was missione, d to many places. I remember that she was sent out as a postulant, along with Sister Laverne Cassidy; and Sister Barbara Mary Koval to St. Anselm's in Swissvale. She was also at: St. Stephen's in Hazelwood, St. James in Wilkinsburg, and a couple of western missions.
I remember specifically that she was at St. Catherine's in Tucson. Her last mission out there was in Chandler.
SMCM: I really appreciate you telling us about Sr. Rose Virginia.
SMCM: Sister, is there anything else that you would like to tell us about your Religious life?
SDML: As far as mission life is concerned, I was always happy that I had experience for about a year and a half on a smaller mission before I came to an institution. I think that it made me understand that the life of the other Sisters is different from ours. Since things have changed, the difference is not as big. There was one funny thing that happened here shortly after I came. I was in the classroom at the head of the stairway. I was very new and very green. This priest came to my door and wanted to know if I had a yardstick. I didn't have a yardstick, didn't know where to get one, nor did I know who he was. I found out later that he was the Reverend T. F. Coakley, who was the famous pastor of Sacred Heart Church, and also the first director at De Paul Institute: He had come to measure the niche, where St. Catherine now stands outside the kitchen door. She wasn't there yet. She was being made, and he wanted to measure the niche.
did direct him down the hall to the Principal's office, but I was never allowed to forget that, because Father Coakley was like the name of the saint here. Soon after that, right before Christmas, he came out here to announce that he was resigning his position as Director of De Paul. He didn't feel that he could do justice to De Paul and to Sacred Heart Parish. The Sisters were so distressed about this. It seemed like the end of the world. The Capuchin Priests took care of our spiritual needs. They came for Mass, heard the childrens' confessions, did whatever needed to be
done. Father Coakley still took care of the business end of things. He came often to do this. He brought back academic ideas from the different places he visited. He brought back materials from the original Montessori School. He was determined to make De Paul Institute the largest oral school for the deaf in the world. I think he came pretty close to doing this. He knew that the school was growing, so he felt that the school should be turned over to someone who could devote full time to it. That's when Father Raymond Daugherty was appointed as Director of De Paul.
Another thing that I remember about Father Coakley was that when I came here, the old Annex was just being finished. We called it then "The Primary School." There were four new little classrooms available for whoever was going to use them. Father Coakley came out on the twenty fourth of October to dedicate that building. It was pouring rain. I remember escorting one of our big boys over to that building for the dedication under a large umbrella.
We had many happy times at De Paul. Sisters came and stayed for a long time. I particularly recall what a delight Sister Marie Michael Carroll was, with her Irish brogue, quotations, lady-like manners, etc. She was the essence of refinement. Sister Rose Gertrude Ritzert was a chubby little German from Butler. She played the organ and taught the youngest children.
SMCM: Can you tell us anything about Schwester(German Sister)? SDML: Oh, yes, Sister Rose Gonzaga Wieland. She had charge of the laundry, and sometimes she was in the kitchen. The biggest thing about her was her German trunk. Anything that you ever wanted, you could get from the German trunk....set of candles for the table, or a lovely brass candle holder, or some ribbon, whatever, it didn't matter, she had it, and she was more than willing to share it. She kept her trunk down near the laundry. She was very good about holidays. She liked to celebrate. She would do anything for anyone.
SMCM: How long was Sr. Rose Gonzaga at De Paul?
SDML: Oh, a long time. I wouldn't estimate how long. She left De Paul for a while and went to one of the missions. I think it was to St. Luke's. She must have returned here, because I can remember her being carried out of here to her death bed on St. Patrick's Day, nineteen sixty-six. She died on March twenty-fourth, so she was close to death when they removed her from De Paul. Her big concern was that she was spoiling Sister Bridgetta
Fitzpatrick's birthday party. That's the kind of person that she was. SMCM: Sister Bridgetta was the Sister Servant then.
SDML; Was she? Maybe she went to the hospital with Sister.
SMCM: She did.
SDML: Were you here then? SMCM: Yes.
SDML: Well, that explains that then.
Sr. Rose Gonzaga had one very close friend here in the city. She called her Cunni.....CunegLinda was probably her name....Cunegunda Koett.
Once in a great while, Cunni would have Sr. Rose Gonzaga to her home. One time, Sister took me as companion. They served a heavy, rich soup first. I ate the soup, and thought that was the meal. That was just the introduction. Then they came with more and more of whatever. It ended with cheese cake. It was the first time I had ever eaten cheese cake. It was home made. That was the nearest thing that Sister had to family, besides the German Sisters in the Community, whom she didn't get to see very often.
SMCM: Did she ever go back to Germany?
SDML: She went back at least once to Studtgard. When she came back, she said: "Ve had to stay over night in Paris." We all said: "Oh, you poor thing!" That was a great event...getting ready for that.
SMCM: What about some of the other Sisters, like Sister Maureen Coggers?
SDML: Sister Maureen Coggers was a very efficient bookkeeper during her stay here at De Paul: She wasn't here very long.
Sister Benedicta Sharp was what we called 'The Boys' Angel." She would have defended those boys with her life. She and Sister Mary Lois Highland worked well together. During another period of time here, there were other people in that position. Sister M. Liguori Steinmiller was here for a while as the boys' angel.
SMCM: When did Sister Marie Andrea Dedig come?
SDML: I don't remember dates clearly, but she probably followed Sister Liguori. Didn't Sr. Marie Andrea come directly here after she made her vows or after she got the black cap? I think she did. I don't believe that she was ever anywhere else. She dedicated· herself completely to the boys, and their welfare, and the baseball team.
SMCM: What nurses were here during your time at De Paul?
SDML: Sister M. Aquinata Moore was in charge of the infirmary when I came. I think she was a Practical Nurse. The infirmary was one small cupboard outside the Sacristy. She was also the Sacristan, so she had charge of the Sacristy. There was no Infirmary room. If she had to take care of one of the girls, she did it right there in the hallway. There was a small Infirmary room upstairs with three little cots. If someone was really sick, they were put in there. She also had a cupboard over on the other side for the boys, and she went over each day to tend to any needs.
SMCM: How long was Sr. Aquinata there? SDML: I'm not sure, possibly three to five years.
SMCM: Who followed Sr. Aquinata?
SDML: It was probably Sister Alice Elizabeth Nolan. I can't remember anyone in between.
SMCM: What about Sister Agnes Teresa Mclane? Wasn't she at De Paul twice?
SDML: She had two turns here, and I don't know if one of them was before
Sister Alice Elizabeth.
You know who else was here briefly was Sister Agnes Joseph Hines. SMCM: I think that Sr. Agnes Teresa was here before Sr. Alice Elizabeth. SDML: That's probably correct....then after Sr. Alice Elizabeth the second time she was here.
SMCM: Can you tell us about the kitchen? Didn't someone in your group work in the kitchen?
SDML: Yes, Sister Teresa Marie Jenkins came here after she lost some of her fingers in an accident at Seton Hill. She was more or less recuperating when she first came. She gradually got well and she worked hard in the kitchen for several years. She was eventually in charge of the kitchen.
There was another Sister here at one time in the kitchen....Sister M. Dominic Wivell. She was here for a while.
Another Sister who was here briefly after she retired was Sister Mary Florence Hickey. She had been a teacher, but she came here to take charge of the children's dining room. She died here in the boys' house.
SMCM: Did she serve in the dining room?
18
SDML: I don't think she served. She didn't know the children. She just took care of the dining room generally.
SMCM: Several of the Sisters died here, didn't they?
SDML: Sister Emmanuel Drake died here. That was the greatest shock! · She was getting ready to go to the Easter Retreat the next day. On Holy Saturday morning, she had polished the main hall, with the help of one of the boys. By Noon that day she was dying. She died in the early part of
the afternoon on Holy Saturday. She was just forty-six years old. She was a very active person. She took part in everything that we had here. We had just celebrated her Silver Jubilee back in February of the same year.
SMCM: How long was Sr. Emmanuel at De Paul?
SDML: I think she spent most of, if not all of her Community life here. I think she was older when she entered, maybe twenty-one. I think she · taught before she entered, but don't believe she was ever on any other mission. She played the piano by ear. She loved to put on plays. I remember on St. Patrick's Day when we were still having silence for breakfast, that she got permission to play the piano in the school hall while we were coming down to breakfast. She was always wanting to celebrate something. Sister M. Adelaide Ford had charge of the "Baking House" at Seton Hill, and she was Sister Emmanuel's dear frjend. They had entered together. Sr. Emmanual made Sister Adelaide a complete, new habit for her Jubilee, even down to a new handkerchief for her pocket. She had great joy in doing that. The people here put on a play for her Jubilee. ·It was really elaborate. It was the story of Prince Galitzen, and she loved that. She was very history minded. I should tell you that Prince Galitzen, known as Father Smith, said Mass in the home of one of my Great, Great Grandfathers. My Grandmother told me that. Western Maryland was part of his territory.
SDML: This Summer, Sr. Mary Antonio's niece came to visit. She had never been back to Pittsburgh since she was a young girl. She now lives in Florida. She was the daughter of Sr. Marie Antonio's sister. Those of us who remembered her went down to talk to her. I said to her: "Do you have one of the statues which was a souvenir of Sr. Marie Antonio's Jubilee?" She said: "No, I don't." I said: "I have one, and I'm going to give it to you." She was just delighted to have that, and after she went back to Florida, she wrote to me and thanked me again. She went through the Academy when we had it, and was present when the College was Incorporated in nineteen
seventeen, I think it was.
There were many Sisters who have come and stayed for a while and have gone. Sister Sophie Gloss was here for a while, Sister Jeannette Weisman was here for quite a while.
Tape Two Side Two
SDML: Other Sisters were: Sister Mary Francis Irvin, Sister Mary Kevin Kerrigan, Sr. Marie Michael Carroll, Sister Mary Ann McAfee spent most of her life here, except for one brief period when she was out on one of the other missions, Sister M. Dionysius Henry was here for two different terms...one before I came, and later when she was really not well.
SMCM: What did Sister Dionysius do, Sister?
SDML: She was in charge of the boys. I can't remember if she was well enough to be with the boys the second time she returned.
Sister Mary James Brownlee had been here for some time before I came. believe she was here specifically to be the Sister Servant.
SMCM: That's what I was going to ask you. I understand that the period of time when Sr. Marie Antonio and Sr. Teresa Vincent were both here, that there was another Sister here who was acting as Sister Servant.
Sr. Marie Arthur: This issue is being repeated. It has already been recorded that Sr. M. Bernadette Hayes was the Sister Servant at De Paul while Sr. Marie Antonio was on the Council.
SDML: In January of Nineteen Fifty-Seven Sr. Marie Antonio and Sr. Teresa Vincent left, at which time, Sister Helen Louise Connelly was made Sister Servant and Principal. After Sr. Helen Louise, Sister M. Bridgetta Fitzpatrick was Principal and Sister Servant, followed by Sister M. Justina Dreistadt as Sister Servant and Sister Philomena Mannion as Principal.
SMCM: Did you also have Sister Leocadia in the kitchen for a while? SDML: Oh, yes, Sister Leocadia Mulholland. She was a great baker of pecan rolls.
SMCM: Where did she come from?
SDML: She came from Carnegie. I taught her niece at St. Luke's. She has a sister living in Brookline. She had several brothers and at least one sister. She was a wonderful cook and a great manager. Dorothy Jackson,
who was Sister John Joseph Weber's sister, and who came here under Sr. Leocadia, and later had to take over, said that Sr. Leocadia taught her everything that she ever knew about cooking.
SMCM: Whose place did Sr. Leocadia take?
SDML: I suspect that Sr. Leocadia followed Sr. Teresa Marie Jenkins. Sr. Leocadia was here for quite a while.
SMCM: Is there anyone else that you can recall?
SDML: Sister Miriam Ruth Clark used to always tell us that her aunt, Sister Marie Aloysia Schreiber had been here some time back. I knew that the older deaf people talked about her. She spent a number of years at De · Paul. Also, Sister Agnes Dougherty was here and was well thought of, but she left here and went to St. Luke's, and she was equally well liked there. She taught the older children. Some of them who have gone out to Greensburg for funerals for other Sisters, like Sister Fiorita McGrory, have visited Sister Agnes in the Infirmary.
SMCM: Did Sister Fiorita McGrory and Sister Rose Xavier Garrity come together?
SDML: They came together in the same year. Sr. Rose Xavier was older in age, but Sr. Fiorita was already in the Community. Sr. Fiorita entered in Nineteen Fifteen, and Sr. Rose Xavier worked for a number of years in a bank. They lived together here for many years. Sr. Rose Xavier had charge of the Boy Scouts, and Sr. Fiorita had charge of the Girl Scouts.
Anything concerning the boys, Sr. Rose Xavier took care of, e.g. The Holy Name Society, and anything pertaining to the girls Sr. Fiorita handled e.g.
The Sodality. Sister Mary Linus Hoag was the third one of that team. They were a great team! Now we have Sr. Mary Linus's nephew on our faculty...Tom Hoag. At one point, Sr. Mary Linus left here for a year or so, because she had a very serious sinus condition. Someone thought that going to the West might help her. It did help her physically, but she missed De Paul. So she came back after a year or two and brought Sister Helen Louise Connelly with her. Sr . Helen Louise had been out there for a number of years and I never knew how it happened, but we always teased Sr. Mary Linus about getting Sr. Helen Louise for De Paul.
SMCM: Sister David Mary; weren't you instrumental in teaching the deaf to
communicate via wire?
SDML: Well, I suppose so, but the instruments were given to me by the alumni. The one they gave me was an old PTY (sounds like they're saying, can't tell). It was a monster of a thing! It sounded like judgement day!
However, it was a great benefit to the deaf people. What you did was attach the receiver of your phone to a cuppler, which in turn was attached to the PTY instrument. Then you dialed your number on the regular phone, which had to be connected with this instrument. Then the phone would ring in the deaf person's home and he or she had it rigged up to a light, so that when the light flashed, they knew the phone was ringing. Then he picked up his receiver and attached it to his instrument and we typed messages back and forth to each other. The first one that we had literally was a PTY. It was an old adapted tele typewriter which a deaf physicist, who was not from Pittsburgh, figured out a way to attach this typewriter to a telephone so that deaf people could communicate by telephone wires, but without hearing. Messages on the older models appeared on rolls of paper. The messages appear on screens on the newer models. (I couldn't make out the acronym letters for the newer models....sounds like TVD...which stands for Television V (can't determine) for the Deaf. The Alumni gave me two of the newer models for my Fiftieth Jubilee.
SMCM: Is there anything else that you would like to say about your work at De Paul?
SDML: It has been very gratifying. I've always been happy that I was sent here. Had I been consulted, I might not have known what to say.
SMCM: At the present time, what are you doing?
SDML: At the present time, I'm the school psychologist, but working for just a half day. I'm training a young man who has been on our staff for a number of years, to do my work. He's also taking courses at Duquesne University toward certification in Psychology. That's working out very well.
SMCM: Are there any comments that you would like to make regarding changes in the Community and in the Church?
SDML: I'm very hopeful on both counts. I feel that there is a considerable amount of unrest in the Church, there is some rebellion being shown, but I think in the end, that the Rock of Peter is still there, and it's going to come out right. In the Community, I believe that we are learning to live with diversity. I think that's good. I have my reservations about some angles of
it, but that's alright too.
SMCM: What do you think about the Faculty staffing of the school in light of having fewer Sisters?
SDML: We have very fine lay people, and they are very dedicated to the work here. I feel that they are going to have more and more control of the school unless we get some Sisters. Our youngest Sisters are not really young. I can accept having more lay people, but would like it to stay in the hands of the Sisters.
SMCM: Well Sister Mary David, I appreciate you taking the time to provide the Community with this important information, and the Community is also grateful.
Sr. Marie Arthur: I completed the transcription of this oral history on Sister David Mary Leonard on June Fourth, Two Thousand Thirteen.
Original Format
Audio cassette tape
Duration
31:32
31:34
31:34
20:27
31:34
31:34
20:27
Bit Rate/Frequency
96kHz
Collection
Other Media
Citation
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, “Oral History: Sister David Mary Leonard,” Collections of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives, accessed April 19, 2024, https://scsharchives.com/items/show/687.
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