Oral History: Sister M. Michaele Keenan
Dublin Core
Title
Oral History: Sister M. Michaele Keenan
Subject
Sister M. Michaele Keenan
Description
An oral history of Sister M. Michaele Keenan, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1921 until 1989. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on November 6, 1986.
Sister M. Michaele Keenan - born Elizabeth Keenan on June 18, 1902 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in May of 1921. Sister Michaele received a bachelor's degree in music education from Duquesne University in 1944. She taught at St. Luke Elementary School from 1943-1955 and again from 1970-1985, offering private music lessons in the later years. She also taught at SS. Simon and Jude School in Blairsville from 1955-1961, at Resurrection School from 1961-1965, at St. Mary Magdalen School from 1965-1967, and at Holy Innocents School from 1967-1970. She primarily taught music, though she also served as Principal, Vice Principal, and Sister Servant at various points throughout her time of service. Sister Michaele Keenan died on November 7, 1989.
Creator
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Publisher
Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Date
1986/11/06
Rights
All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Format
Audio cassette tape
Type
Oral history
Identifier
OH-22
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Sister Marie Corona Miller
Interviewee
Sister M. Michaele Keenan
Transcription
OH 22 1 Sr.Michaele KeĀ·enan
This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister M. Michaele Keenan. It is being done by Sr. Marie Corona Miller at St. Luke's Convent in Carnegie. The date is November Fifth, nineteen eighty-six.
SMCM: Good morning, Sr. Michaele. I'm very happy to be here with you today to talk about some of the things regarding your personal history. Would you like to tell us?
SMK: I'll be glad to do that. My father was Joseph Keenan. My mother was Mary Lane Keenan. They were married in St. James Church in the West End by Father Price. My father died in nineteen seventeen. My mother died in nineteen thirty-one.
SMCM: Did you have any brothers or sisters?
SMK: My mother had eight children. Six of them died at an early age. My brother and I lived. We moved to the West End when we were very young. I attended St. Francis de Sales School in McKees Rocks from First Grade through the Commercial Course in High School. I went to St. Francis de Sales all my life before entrance and was taught by the Sisters of Charity. It was the example of Sister Alice Marie Barron that influenced me to become a Sister of Charity. I kept in touch with her when she went to the different missions. I entered the Community on May First, nineteen twenty-one. My Novitiate was under the guidance of Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub, who was very stem.
SMCM: Who entered with you, Sister?
SMK: Sister M. Clarissa Cunningham entered with me. She was from Scottdale. She also was influenced by Sr. Alice Marie Barron. Sr. Alice Marie was changed from St. Francis de Sales in McKees Rocks to St. John's in Scottdale. Sister Clarissa became very close to Sr. Alice Marie. She was a lovely lady.
We both entered on the same day. We met at the bottom of the Hill. She pushed me in first because I was the oldest.
Now, I will tell you about some of my years in the Community....where, what I taught, etc. The first place lwent to was down to St. Benedict's in Greensburg. I taught three days a week at St. Benedict's. The other two days I went to another school, but can't remember exactly where. It was also in the Greensburg Diocese. From there I went to St. Stephen's in Hazelwood for one year. After that, I was sent to Saint Simon and Jude in Blairsville. I was the first young Sister to go to Blairsville. They were all senior Sisters.
SMCM: Who was the Sister Servant?
SMK: At one time it was Sister M. Mildred Stephen. Then Sister M. Conrad Auth became the Sister Servant. I was there for eight years.
They couldn't figure out why a young Sister was sent there. The people of the town thought I (couldn't get what she said). The Pastor, Father Haw (if correctly spelled) was very kind. Before I left Seton Hill, the Sisters in the Novitiate all said: "Oh, the steps are the tombs from the dead!" They all said you'll be afraid to sleep because people haunt you. It wasn't the Convent but it was the Rectory that was haunted for a number of years. The Pastor used to walk the streets at night. When he came back, he would go into the Church where the candles were already lit, but not by him. I often said to the housekeeper: "Aren't you afraid?" She said: No,
I've gotten used to it. When Father Haw died, Father Carlin was sent. Father Carlin tore down the inner part of the Rectory. There was a big hall upstairs where the bedrooms were located. That was torn down, because that was where the trouble came. People wouldn't believe it. They had a Mission there. The Priest had to leave. He said that his bed was elevated at night. He couldn't tolerate it.
SMCM: What was the cause of all that?
SMK: No one seemed to really know. They thought that someone lacked having Masses said. SMCM: Did the Sisters ever experience anything like that?
SMK: No, nothing ever happened in the Convent. SMCM: What Grade did you teach?
SMK: No Grade. I taught Piano Lessons.
SMCM: Sister, where did you get your background in Music?
SMK: I received training in Music at St. Francis de Sales from the Sisters of Charity. Then, in the Community, I went to Duquesne University where I received my College Degree.
SMCM: Do you remember who some of the Sisters were who were with you in Blairsville? SMK: There was: Sister M. Evarista Donovan, Sister Marie Francis Curran, Sister Alexandra McQuade, and Sister Jane Joyce.
SMK: When I left Blairsville in nineteen thirty-five, I was sent to St. Luke's in Carnegie. It was lovely. I'll never forget Carnegie. They had their first flood on March seventeenth, nineteen thirty-six. The police came to the door with boats. They asked Sister Agnes Marie Reuber if they could take us. She said: "Anyone who chooses to do so, may go." No-one went. We had another flood in nineteen forty-two.
SMCM: Did you have any damage from these floods?
SMK: The damage was confined to the basement. It didn't come up into the upper part of the house. The cellar is situated in a different place now. They put the statue of the Blessed Mother at the top step.
SMK: The flood in nineteen forty-two was caused by heavy rain, which made "The Washington Dam" ready to burst. Before it burst, they opened it. Therefore, we had more flooding. They notified men working in Mills, but they didn't notify Schools. They had to carry things from the High School over to the Convent. It was a terrible flood! They don't worry about floods now because of some preventive measures which have been taken. I can't actually say that there have never been any more floods, because after I left Carnegie, I was told that there had been flooding in the basement which caused damage to the Sisters' trunks
SMCM: Sister, can you tell us anything about the nice things which took place at St. Luke's? SMK: Just living there was great! There was a High School there and so they had enjoyable events...plays, concerts, etc.
SMCM: Did you teach Piano Lessons there?
SMK: Yes, I taught Piano Lessons in the Grade School and High School. I taught Singing in the Grade School. It got so big for me that I had to ask Mother M. Claudia Glenn for help. She sent a Music teacher. I especially remember Sister M. Annina Fox. We worked well together, and had programs. We had a Piano Concert down at the Library. She said: "Sister Michaele, I could
never have done that if you hadn' t been here to do it." I had to get money for the children so I had to have some events.
SMCM: Was this at the Public Library?
SMK: Yes, it was. The High School had things there too. For a while, we had things in the School, but as things became larger, we needed more space.
SMCM: Sister, when you taught Singing, did the children come to you, or did you go to the classrooms?
SMK: The High School students came over to the Hall in the Grade School. I went to the individual rooms in the Grade School. Ifwe had Choir Practice, it was in the Hall.
SMCM: Sister, how many Sisters were there with you in nineteen thirty-five?
SMK: In nineteen thirty-five, there were fifteen Sisters. When I was leaving St. Luke' s in nineteen fifty-five, there were twenty-eight Sisters.
SMK: Nineteen fifty-five brought a big change in my life. I was sent to be the Sister Servant at St. Simon and Jude' s in Blairsville. When Mother Claudia informed me of this, I said: "You know Mother, I'm not Sister Ann Michaele Reilly, I'm just Sister Michaele." Father Mueller, the Pastor had a history of making it difficult for Sister Servants.
SMCM: How many Sisters did you have with you?
SMK: We had eight Sisters. They were very nice. It was a different situation. I was the Sister Servant, Principal, charge of the Music, etc. It's a wonder I didn't die! I had Postulants, Novices, and Professed Sisters. The one helping thing about it was that I had been there before. I knew the School. That was a big help. I knew the parents of the pupils. They would all ask: "Do you know my name, Sister? Do you know my name?" I was there for six years. It was quite different! I wouldn't want to go through it again. As far as being the Sister Servant. they
weren't unkind to me, but it was hard, especially if you' re a young woman and it isn' t your forte in life. I had lots of visits from Seton Hill anyway. Each year someone would come and say: "One more year. One more year!"
SMK: When my time was up in Blairsville, I was sent to Resurrection in Brookline. I was there for four years. When I went into that School, I thought it was the whole world because it was so large.
SMCM: Were there a lot of Sisters at Resurrection?
SMK: Yes, a good many. I forget who the Sister Servant was. There were, I believe six of every Grade.There was letters A, B, C, D, E, and F to indicate each. I was up on the second floor.
Later, when St. Pius Catholic School was built (now Brookline Regional Catholic) I was on the first floor because we lost about two hundred students to St. Pius. So then we had four fourth Grades. Sister M. Clarasita Wolk had A, I had B, and the two seculars had C and D. I'll never forget Sister Clarasita. She was so kind.
SMCM: Sister, what about your Music during those years?
SMK: I taught Piano Lessons in the Convent after School. I didn't have very many because my teaching and other duties wouldn' t allow for it. After that, we went to different Schools for a
year at a time.
SMCM: Sister, I would like to ask you a question about Resurrection. Did you live in what was the new Convent?
SMK: I must have because they were building that Convent in nineteen fifty. I went to Resurrection in nineteen fifty-five. It was a lovely Convent. There were many Sisters there. I was sorry to leave there. I was there for four happy years. I also liked the School.
The last School I went to was Holy Innocents in Sheraden where I taught fourth Grade. I was there for a couple of years. From there I went back to St. Luke's in Carnegie in nineteen seventy. There was no High School at that time. It had closed after Canev,in: High School was built. I taught Singing in the Grade School and Piano Lessons. Then I was at St. Luke's from nineteen seventy until nineteen eight-six. I was here for twenty years the first time I was here. Sister M. Emily Miller was here for six of the years I was at St. Luke's. She was the Principal of the Grade School. In the High School Sister Mary Henry Hanse and Sister Mary Blanche Stokes seemed to take turns being the Principal of the High School. Sister Emily was a wonderful Sister, but she did not want to be disturbed when she came to School. That was her Reading time. They got her a big Rocker. She brought the Post over everyday to read. She was the nicest Sister, but they say that in her early days, she was a bit crabby. The enrollment was very low in the years when Sister Ann Patricia Barkin was the Principal. Sister Louise de Paul Burke was the only other Sister in the School.
SMCM: Sister, what about the present Convent? Is it the one you lived in when you were there before?
SMK: No, it's a new part. They built it while I was here. It's about twenty-five years old. It wasn't the Pastor, but the Assistant said that it was against Canon Law for more than one Sister to be in a bedroom. Previously, we had one Bathroom for about fifteen Sisters, big dorms for multiple Sisters. Monsignor Kernan was here for the finalizing of the building. There are lots of beautiful things about Carnegie. The people are good to us. At Holiday Times, they always bring you something. They do this for the entire group, not individually. When the various fruits and vegetables are harvested we receive strawberries, large amounts of tomatoes, etc. They're older people, and they think that the Sisters are special. When Sister Mary Alban Fitzgerald died, they were really upset.
SMCM: Can you tell me anything about Sr. Mary Alban since you were with her for many years? SMK: Sr. Mary Alban came to St. Luke's in nineteen seventy-one. She was with me for just a short time the frrst time I was here. She came from being at St. James in the West End. She had a great deal of sickness. She was diabetic among other things. She didn't like going to the Doctor. She was nice to live with.
SMCM: Did she teach?
SMK: She did until her health got too poor. Then, she did special work. She worked up at John Kane with Sister Jean Frances Peters for a while. She was very active with the Senior Citizens Group in Carnegie. She packed to go to Ireland with the group, but died before getting to Ireland. That group was very upset. They knew however, that Sister probably lived beyond what her health would warrant. She didn't want to die, but eventually became reconciled to it.
SMCM: Where did Sr. Mary Alban come from?
SMK: She came from Hazelwood. She didn't have any immediate family. All of them were deceased. Her brother was the last one to die. She had nieces and nephews.
SMCM: So, you're the Senior Sister at St.Luke's?
SMK: I've been the Senior Sister since nineteen seventy. Sister Jean Augustine asked me if perhaps I should think about going to Assumption Hall, and Sister Sebastian Jellison, by way of invitation wondered if I would like to go there. I taught Sister Sebastian Piano Lessons when I was in Blairsville. I feel this way about going to Assumption Hall. If you're active, why not stay, because to live in one room, I'd lose my head. I would get senile right away. At the same time, I don't believe in waiting until you have to be sick in bed. I don't dislike Assumption Hall, but I don't have feeling for it. I think it's because I have lived so long at our Missions. Unless they close the School, I'll still be here. There are many charges which have to be taken care of here at St. Luke's.
SMCM: What are some of the things you are responsible for doing?
SMK: The kitchen needs to be kept in order....dishes done, garbage emptied, etc. I have charge of the Dining Room. I do the towels. The Dining Room is quite large. We have a woman who comes once a week to do the bigger things. I also take my turn getting breakfast. My day is Friday.
SMCM: Sister, could we backtrack a bit? When you entered in nineteen twenty-one, who was your Mistress?
SMK: Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub was the Mistress.
SMCM: Were you in the group who were Novices for five years?
SMK: Yes, we were Novices for five years and three months. We had Sister Hildegarde for about three years. We had another Mistress, Mother Mary Francis McCullough. It was like from the ridiculous to the sublime! Sr. Hildegarde stood over you like you never knew how to scrub or do other things. Mother Mary Francis treated you like a woman.
SMCM: What was your charge as a Novice?
SMK: Most of the charges were on the first floor of the Administration Building. You moved around doing the various things in the Kitchen and Dining Room. Then there were some charges on other floors upstairs e.g. the Community Room.
SMCM: Where did you live?
SMK: We lived on the fourth and fifth floors of the Administration Building.
SMCM: Were there many in the Novitiate?
SMK: Yes, there was a large number of Sisters in the Novitiate with me. It was very strict. When I wrote home to my Mother about the cemetery, because I didn't know what else to say, I was criticized. The letter was given back to me.
SMCM: So, your parents were still living when you entered?
SMK: My father was deceased. My Mother died when I was in Blairsville in nineteen thirty-one. My Father and Mother both were killed, not together. It was between Christmas and New Year's.
My Mother and I had influenza. My Father said that he was going to West End to wish his
parents a greeting to ring out the old and bring in a New Year of happiness. In those days we didn't have a car. We traveled via streetcar. He got off the streetcar at Steuben Street to walk up to his parents. (She says something here about a streetcar and train stop possibly intersecting). Noone saw my Father being hit or killed. His body was pulled over to Main Street. My Aunt knew that my Father was coming, and she went out on the porch and said: "Oh, Joe must have gone up to my Mother's Mother place." The next day, a child came to my Grandparents house to see their Christmas tree. You know how children talk: Well, this child said: "By the way, there was a man killed last night." My Mother had called my Grandparents to see if they had sickness as my Father had-not .c ome home all night. My Aunt called the Morgue, and the man who answered said: "Yes, there is a man here,and his Son has come to identify him. My brother,
John, who was a Western Union employee had been at work there. My Aunt called and asked the gentleman to put my brother on the line. My Aunt said: "John, is something wrong?" He said: "Yes, my Father died on his way to the hospital." John came home to my Mother and me. He said: "Well, Pop is dead!" My Father was laid out at home. (Sr. Marie Arthur...They had to have the Coroner, but there was loud crashing on the tape, so I couldn't get what she was saying). SMCM: What hit him, Sister?
SMK: We think it was a train, but we're really not sure because of the circumstances. After that, my Grandmother went to bed and never got up again. That was in nineteen seventeen. He was forty-five years old.
SMK: My Mother was killed on the bridge that goes across the Allegheny River in the West End. It was during Lent and Sister Mary Basil Jungling and I came in from Blairsville to visit our Mothers. It was the only available weekend that we could do this. Sister Mary Basil's Mother lived in Sheraden.. My Mother didn't know that I was coming. I went shopping with my Mother and then we went home. That's the last time I saw my Mother alive. My Mother said that she would take me over to Sheraden to be with Sister Mary Basil for the return trip to Blairsville.
When my Mother was leaving Sheraden I asked if she was going directly home, but she said that she was going to Church. It was Friday. I never got to leave Sheraden that day as the call came that my Mother was in St. Joseph's Hospital because she had been hit by a driver from Sheraden. Anyhow, the Sister Servant (whom she didn't name) told her to stay over if her Mother wasn't going to live, but to come home if she lived. Sister Alberta Sweeney went with me.
SMK: Another gentleman who witnessed the accident got her to the hospital where she eventually lost consciousness and died due to a serious head injury. She was fifty-four years old.
Tape II Side I
SMCM: This is a continuation of the interview being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The Interviewee is Sister Michaele Keenan. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at St. Luke's Convent in Carnegie.
The date is November sixth, nineteen eighty-six.
SMCM: Sister, we were talking about Sister Sister M. Clarissa Cunningham. She entered with you. Could you share some things about her with us?
SMK: Yes, Sister Clarissa entered from Scottdale. Her Father and Grandmother reared them as
children. She graduated from the Catholic School in Scottdale. She entered the Community on May First, nineteen twenty-one. She taught at St. Benedict's in Greensburg for many years. She was at Sacred Heart in the East End, I'm not sure how long. She was at Blairsville for just a year. Most of her teaching was in the eighth Grade. She was a very fine teacher and was also strict. She was held back from making Vows for a while. When I heard it, I went to Sister Hildegarde and asked her why Sr. Clarissa was being held back from Vows. She said: Well, she is sick." I said: "Well, if anyone needs to be held back, you can hold me back because Sister Clarissa is really looking forward to making Vows. Again, Sr. Hildegarde said: Well, if she doesn't get better, we'll have to send her home." Sr. Hildegarde further said: She was asked to help with a mattress, but said she couldn't because her arms were not strong enough." The person called her a baby. Another time she was in Pittsburgh Hospital. Her Father went to see her and told her he was going to take her home. We often laugh about it now. She made her Vows the following year with Sister Rose Xavier Garrity and Sister Mary Josephine McClory. I made Vows with Sister M. Agnita McCall and Sister Mary Lucy McDermitt. Sister Clarissa was very good in Latin, but I don't know if she ever taught it.
SMCM: Sister, getting back to your Novitiate. What was it like when you were young Sisters? SMK: We had good times. I'll tell you who else was in our group Sister Florence Marie Scott.
She was full oflife. Sister Veronica Scott, Sister to Sr. Florence Marie Scott was in the Novitiate then also, but she wasn't as wild as her sister. One time, we were over at the Bakery and we stole a pie. We took the Curtis method in Music. Miss or Mrs. Curtis was coming to visit us.
Sister M. Angeline Jackson, Sister Mary Eleanor Frederick, and many other Sisters had to take the Course. Sister Helen Cecilia Dwyer wouldn't take it. Her hands were perfect. Mrs.
Robinson was the regular Music teacher for the Summer. She took all of the Piano Teachers together in Sullivan Hall. Sister M. Angeline and her girlfriend Sister Mary Eleanor played. We were in the audience. It was time for the Class to end. The bell rang before it was time to go. I said to Sister Veronica: "Veronica, I'm leaving." Veronica said: "Okay, I'll go with you." Before we could breathe the second time, we were reported. We met Sister Helen Cecilia who said: "You go to Mother Claudia because you have been reported." I said: "What for?" She said: "For leaving class." Veronica said: "Well, Michaele, I'm not going." So, I walked over to see Mother Claudia. On my way in, Sister Mary Eleanor was on her way out crying. I said: "Mother, did you want me?" She said: "Yes, I'm surprised at you walking out of Class." I said: "The Class was over." She said: "The time was over, but the teacher wasn't finished with you." I said: "Well, she didn't do anything with us. She took two other people." She was lovely with me, but she knew I was right all the way through. She said: "Well, you get Sister Veronica, and you go and apologize to that teacher." We went and apologized. Mrs. Curtis was wonderful with us. She took us to the pianos and heard us play. In fact, her cab was there to take her, but she had the driver wait until she finished working with Sister Veronica and me.
Tape II Side 2
SMCM: Sister, how did you choose your name?
SMK: They said I looked like the Sister Anne Xavier Keenan who died. I didn't want the name Anne Xavier. Someone said I should ask for Michaele. I guess I shouldn't have done that
because her Pastor is Michael. First, I didn't like the name, but I've grown to like it now. Every time I go to the Doctor, they say: "How do you spell it?" I say:" Michael with an eon it at the end."
SMCM: Sister, is there anything else you would like to tell us? SMK: No, I think that I have told you enough.
SMCM: How do you feel about the changes that have taken place in the Church and in the Community?
SMK: It has been difficult, but I don't fight against the changes. I do what I can do. I don't relish the changes, but they are something which you have to go through.
SMCM: Sister Michaele, I want to thank you in the name of the Community for giving your time and providing us with so many interesting stories. Our Community is very enthused about the Oral History Program, and are very pleased when the Sisters take part in it.
Sr. Marie Arthur Hamilton: I completed the transcription of the Oral History for Sister Michaele Keenan on Wednesday, March twentieth. Two thousand thirteen.:.2013.
This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister M. Michaele Keenan. It is being done by Sr. Marie Corona Miller at St. Luke's Convent in Carnegie. The date is November Fifth, nineteen eighty-six.
SMCM: Good morning, Sr. Michaele. I'm very happy to be here with you today to talk about some of the things regarding your personal history. Would you like to tell us?
SMK: I'll be glad to do that. My father was Joseph Keenan. My mother was Mary Lane Keenan. They were married in St. James Church in the West End by Father Price. My father died in nineteen seventeen. My mother died in nineteen thirty-one.
SMCM: Did you have any brothers or sisters?
SMK: My mother had eight children. Six of them died at an early age. My brother and I lived. We moved to the West End when we were very young. I attended St. Francis de Sales School in McKees Rocks from First Grade through the Commercial Course in High School. I went to St. Francis de Sales all my life before entrance and was taught by the Sisters of Charity. It was the example of Sister Alice Marie Barron that influenced me to become a Sister of Charity. I kept in touch with her when she went to the different missions. I entered the Community on May First, nineteen twenty-one. My Novitiate was under the guidance of Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub, who was very stem.
SMCM: Who entered with you, Sister?
SMK: Sister M. Clarissa Cunningham entered with me. She was from Scottdale. She also was influenced by Sr. Alice Marie Barron. Sr. Alice Marie was changed from St. Francis de Sales in McKees Rocks to St. John's in Scottdale. Sister Clarissa became very close to Sr. Alice Marie. She was a lovely lady.
We both entered on the same day. We met at the bottom of the Hill. She pushed me in first because I was the oldest.
Now, I will tell you about some of my years in the Community....where, what I taught, etc. The first place lwent to was down to St. Benedict's in Greensburg. I taught three days a week at St. Benedict's. The other two days I went to another school, but can't remember exactly where. It was also in the Greensburg Diocese. From there I went to St. Stephen's in Hazelwood for one year. After that, I was sent to Saint Simon and Jude in Blairsville. I was the first young Sister to go to Blairsville. They were all senior Sisters.
SMCM: Who was the Sister Servant?
SMK: At one time it was Sister M. Mildred Stephen. Then Sister M. Conrad Auth became the Sister Servant. I was there for eight years.
They couldn't figure out why a young Sister was sent there. The people of the town thought I (couldn't get what she said). The Pastor, Father Haw (if correctly spelled) was very kind. Before I left Seton Hill, the Sisters in the Novitiate all said: "Oh, the steps are the tombs from the dead!" They all said you'll be afraid to sleep because people haunt you. It wasn't the Convent but it was the Rectory that was haunted for a number of years. The Pastor used to walk the streets at night. When he came back, he would go into the Church where the candles were already lit, but not by him. I often said to the housekeeper: "Aren't you afraid?" She said: No,
I've gotten used to it. When Father Haw died, Father Carlin was sent. Father Carlin tore down the inner part of the Rectory. There was a big hall upstairs where the bedrooms were located. That was torn down, because that was where the trouble came. People wouldn't believe it. They had a Mission there. The Priest had to leave. He said that his bed was elevated at night. He couldn't tolerate it.
SMCM: What was the cause of all that?
SMK: No one seemed to really know. They thought that someone lacked having Masses said. SMCM: Did the Sisters ever experience anything like that?
SMK: No, nothing ever happened in the Convent. SMCM: What Grade did you teach?
SMK: No Grade. I taught Piano Lessons.
SMCM: Sister, where did you get your background in Music?
SMK: I received training in Music at St. Francis de Sales from the Sisters of Charity. Then, in the Community, I went to Duquesne University where I received my College Degree.
SMCM: Do you remember who some of the Sisters were who were with you in Blairsville? SMK: There was: Sister M. Evarista Donovan, Sister Marie Francis Curran, Sister Alexandra McQuade, and Sister Jane Joyce.
SMK: When I left Blairsville in nineteen thirty-five, I was sent to St. Luke's in Carnegie. It was lovely. I'll never forget Carnegie. They had their first flood on March seventeenth, nineteen thirty-six. The police came to the door with boats. They asked Sister Agnes Marie Reuber if they could take us. She said: "Anyone who chooses to do so, may go." No-one went. We had another flood in nineteen forty-two.
SMCM: Did you have any damage from these floods?
SMK: The damage was confined to the basement. It didn't come up into the upper part of the house. The cellar is situated in a different place now. They put the statue of the Blessed Mother at the top step.
SMK: The flood in nineteen forty-two was caused by heavy rain, which made "The Washington Dam" ready to burst. Before it burst, they opened it. Therefore, we had more flooding. They notified men working in Mills, but they didn't notify Schools. They had to carry things from the High School over to the Convent. It was a terrible flood! They don't worry about floods now because of some preventive measures which have been taken. I can't actually say that there have never been any more floods, because after I left Carnegie, I was told that there had been flooding in the basement which caused damage to the Sisters' trunks
SMCM: Sister, can you tell us anything about the nice things which took place at St. Luke's? SMK: Just living there was great! There was a High School there and so they had enjoyable events...plays, concerts, etc.
SMCM: Did you teach Piano Lessons there?
SMK: Yes, I taught Piano Lessons in the Grade School and High School. I taught Singing in the Grade School. It got so big for me that I had to ask Mother M. Claudia Glenn for help. She sent a Music teacher. I especially remember Sister M. Annina Fox. We worked well together, and had programs. We had a Piano Concert down at the Library. She said: "Sister Michaele, I could
never have done that if you hadn' t been here to do it." I had to get money for the children so I had to have some events.
SMCM: Was this at the Public Library?
SMK: Yes, it was. The High School had things there too. For a while, we had things in the School, but as things became larger, we needed more space.
SMCM: Sister, when you taught Singing, did the children come to you, or did you go to the classrooms?
SMK: The High School students came over to the Hall in the Grade School. I went to the individual rooms in the Grade School. Ifwe had Choir Practice, it was in the Hall.
SMCM: Sister, how many Sisters were there with you in nineteen thirty-five?
SMK: In nineteen thirty-five, there were fifteen Sisters. When I was leaving St. Luke' s in nineteen fifty-five, there were twenty-eight Sisters.
SMK: Nineteen fifty-five brought a big change in my life. I was sent to be the Sister Servant at St. Simon and Jude' s in Blairsville. When Mother Claudia informed me of this, I said: "You know Mother, I'm not Sister Ann Michaele Reilly, I'm just Sister Michaele." Father Mueller, the Pastor had a history of making it difficult for Sister Servants.
SMCM: How many Sisters did you have with you?
SMK: We had eight Sisters. They were very nice. It was a different situation. I was the Sister Servant, Principal, charge of the Music, etc. It's a wonder I didn't die! I had Postulants, Novices, and Professed Sisters. The one helping thing about it was that I had been there before. I knew the School. That was a big help. I knew the parents of the pupils. They would all ask: "Do you know my name, Sister? Do you know my name?" I was there for six years. It was quite different! I wouldn't want to go through it again. As far as being the Sister Servant. they
weren't unkind to me, but it was hard, especially if you' re a young woman and it isn' t your forte in life. I had lots of visits from Seton Hill anyway. Each year someone would come and say: "One more year. One more year!"
SMK: When my time was up in Blairsville, I was sent to Resurrection in Brookline. I was there for four years. When I went into that School, I thought it was the whole world because it was so large.
SMCM: Were there a lot of Sisters at Resurrection?
SMK: Yes, a good many. I forget who the Sister Servant was. There were, I believe six of every Grade.There was letters A, B, C, D, E, and F to indicate each. I was up on the second floor.
Later, when St. Pius Catholic School was built (now Brookline Regional Catholic) I was on the first floor because we lost about two hundred students to St. Pius. So then we had four fourth Grades. Sister M. Clarasita Wolk had A, I had B, and the two seculars had C and D. I'll never forget Sister Clarasita. She was so kind.
SMCM: Sister, what about your Music during those years?
SMK: I taught Piano Lessons in the Convent after School. I didn't have very many because my teaching and other duties wouldn' t allow for it. After that, we went to different Schools for a
year at a time.
SMCM: Sister, I would like to ask you a question about Resurrection. Did you live in what was the new Convent?
SMK: I must have because they were building that Convent in nineteen fifty. I went to Resurrection in nineteen fifty-five. It was a lovely Convent. There were many Sisters there. I was sorry to leave there. I was there for four happy years. I also liked the School.
The last School I went to was Holy Innocents in Sheraden where I taught fourth Grade. I was there for a couple of years. From there I went back to St. Luke's in Carnegie in nineteen seventy. There was no High School at that time. It had closed after Canev,in: High School was built. I taught Singing in the Grade School and Piano Lessons. Then I was at St. Luke's from nineteen seventy until nineteen eight-six. I was here for twenty years the first time I was here. Sister M. Emily Miller was here for six of the years I was at St. Luke's. She was the Principal of the Grade School. In the High School Sister Mary Henry Hanse and Sister Mary Blanche Stokes seemed to take turns being the Principal of the High School. Sister Emily was a wonderful Sister, but she did not want to be disturbed when she came to School. That was her Reading time. They got her a big Rocker. She brought the Post over everyday to read. She was the nicest Sister, but they say that in her early days, she was a bit crabby. The enrollment was very low in the years when Sister Ann Patricia Barkin was the Principal. Sister Louise de Paul Burke was the only other Sister in the School.
SMCM: Sister, what about the present Convent? Is it the one you lived in when you were there before?
SMK: No, it's a new part. They built it while I was here. It's about twenty-five years old. It wasn't the Pastor, but the Assistant said that it was against Canon Law for more than one Sister to be in a bedroom. Previously, we had one Bathroom for about fifteen Sisters, big dorms for multiple Sisters. Monsignor Kernan was here for the finalizing of the building. There are lots of beautiful things about Carnegie. The people are good to us. At Holiday Times, they always bring you something. They do this for the entire group, not individually. When the various fruits and vegetables are harvested we receive strawberries, large amounts of tomatoes, etc. They're older people, and they think that the Sisters are special. When Sister Mary Alban Fitzgerald died, they were really upset.
SMCM: Can you tell me anything about Sr. Mary Alban since you were with her for many years? SMK: Sr. Mary Alban came to St. Luke's in nineteen seventy-one. She was with me for just a short time the frrst time I was here. She came from being at St. James in the West End. She had a great deal of sickness. She was diabetic among other things. She didn't like going to the Doctor. She was nice to live with.
SMCM: Did she teach?
SMK: She did until her health got too poor. Then, she did special work. She worked up at John Kane with Sister Jean Frances Peters for a while. She was very active with the Senior Citizens Group in Carnegie. She packed to go to Ireland with the group, but died before getting to Ireland. That group was very upset. They knew however, that Sister probably lived beyond what her health would warrant. She didn't want to die, but eventually became reconciled to it.
SMCM: Where did Sr. Mary Alban come from?
SMK: She came from Hazelwood. She didn't have any immediate family. All of them were deceased. Her brother was the last one to die. She had nieces and nephews.
SMCM: So, you're the Senior Sister at St.Luke's?
SMK: I've been the Senior Sister since nineteen seventy. Sister Jean Augustine asked me if perhaps I should think about going to Assumption Hall, and Sister Sebastian Jellison, by way of invitation wondered if I would like to go there. I taught Sister Sebastian Piano Lessons when I was in Blairsville. I feel this way about going to Assumption Hall. If you're active, why not stay, because to live in one room, I'd lose my head. I would get senile right away. At the same time, I don't believe in waiting until you have to be sick in bed. I don't dislike Assumption Hall, but I don't have feeling for it. I think it's because I have lived so long at our Missions. Unless they close the School, I'll still be here. There are many charges which have to be taken care of here at St. Luke's.
SMCM: What are some of the things you are responsible for doing?
SMK: The kitchen needs to be kept in order....dishes done, garbage emptied, etc. I have charge of the Dining Room. I do the towels. The Dining Room is quite large. We have a woman who comes once a week to do the bigger things. I also take my turn getting breakfast. My day is Friday.
SMCM: Sister, could we backtrack a bit? When you entered in nineteen twenty-one, who was your Mistress?
SMK: Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub was the Mistress.
SMCM: Were you in the group who were Novices for five years?
SMK: Yes, we were Novices for five years and three months. We had Sister Hildegarde for about three years. We had another Mistress, Mother Mary Francis McCullough. It was like from the ridiculous to the sublime! Sr. Hildegarde stood over you like you never knew how to scrub or do other things. Mother Mary Francis treated you like a woman.
SMCM: What was your charge as a Novice?
SMK: Most of the charges were on the first floor of the Administration Building. You moved around doing the various things in the Kitchen and Dining Room. Then there were some charges on other floors upstairs e.g. the Community Room.
SMCM: Where did you live?
SMK: We lived on the fourth and fifth floors of the Administration Building.
SMCM: Were there many in the Novitiate?
SMK: Yes, there was a large number of Sisters in the Novitiate with me. It was very strict. When I wrote home to my Mother about the cemetery, because I didn't know what else to say, I was criticized. The letter was given back to me.
SMCM: So, your parents were still living when you entered?
SMK: My father was deceased. My Mother died when I was in Blairsville in nineteen thirty-one. My Father and Mother both were killed, not together. It was between Christmas and New Year's.
My Mother and I had influenza. My Father said that he was going to West End to wish his
parents a greeting to ring out the old and bring in a New Year of happiness. In those days we didn't have a car. We traveled via streetcar. He got off the streetcar at Steuben Street to walk up to his parents. (She says something here about a streetcar and train stop possibly intersecting). Noone saw my Father being hit or killed. His body was pulled over to Main Street. My Aunt knew that my Father was coming, and she went out on the porch and said: "Oh, Joe must have gone up to my Mother's Mother place." The next day, a child came to my Grandparents house to see their Christmas tree. You know how children talk: Well, this child said: "By the way, there was a man killed last night." My Mother had called my Grandparents to see if they had sickness as my Father had-not .c ome home all night. My Aunt called the Morgue, and the man who answered said: "Yes, there is a man here,and his Son has come to identify him. My brother,
John, who was a Western Union employee had been at work there. My Aunt called and asked the gentleman to put my brother on the line. My Aunt said: "John, is something wrong?" He said: "Yes, my Father died on his way to the hospital." John came home to my Mother and me. He said: "Well, Pop is dead!" My Father was laid out at home. (Sr. Marie Arthur...They had to have the Coroner, but there was loud crashing on the tape, so I couldn't get what she was saying). SMCM: What hit him, Sister?
SMK: We think it was a train, but we're really not sure because of the circumstances. After that, my Grandmother went to bed and never got up again. That was in nineteen seventeen. He was forty-five years old.
SMK: My Mother was killed on the bridge that goes across the Allegheny River in the West End. It was during Lent and Sister Mary Basil Jungling and I came in from Blairsville to visit our Mothers. It was the only available weekend that we could do this. Sister Mary Basil's Mother lived in Sheraden.. My Mother didn't know that I was coming. I went shopping with my Mother and then we went home. That's the last time I saw my Mother alive. My Mother said that she would take me over to Sheraden to be with Sister Mary Basil for the return trip to Blairsville.
When my Mother was leaving Sheraden I asked if she was going directly home, but she said that she was going to Church. It was Friday. I never got to leave Sheraden that day as the call came that my Mother was in St. Joseph's Hospital because she had been hit by a driver from Sheraden. Anyhow, the Sister Servant (whom she didn't name) told her to stay over if her Mother wasn't going to live, but to come home if she lived. Sister Alberta Sweeney went with me.
SMK: Another gentleman who witnessed the accident got her to the hospital where she eventually lost consciousness and died due to a serious head injury. She was fifty-four years old.
Tape II Side I
SMCM: This is a continuation of the interview being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The Interviewee is Sister Michaele Keenan. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at St. Luke's Convent in Carnegie.
The date is November sixth, nineteen eighty-six.
SMCM: Sister, we were talking about Sister Sister M. Clarissa Cunningham. She entered with you. Could you share some things about her with us?
SMK: Yes, Sister Clarissa entered from Scottdale. Her Father and Grandmother reared them as
children. She graduated from the Catholic School in Scottdale. She entered the Community on May First, nineteen twenty-one. She taught at St. Benedict's in Greensburg for many years. She was at Sacred Heart in the East End, I'm not sure how long. She was at Blairsville for just a year. Most of her teaching was in the eighth Grade. She was a very fine teacher and was also strict. She was held back from making Vows for a while. When I heard it, I went to Sister Hildegarde and asked her why Sr. Clarissa was being held back from Vows. She said: Well, she is sick." I said: "Well, if anyone needs to be held back, you can hold me back because Sister Clarissa is really looking forward to making Vows. Again, Sr. Hildegarde said: Well, if she doesn't get better, we'll have to send her home." Sr. Hildegarde further said: She was asked to help with a mattress, but said she couldn't because her arms were not strong enough." The person called her a baby. Another time she was in Pittsburgh Hospital. Her Father went to see her and told her he was going to take her home. We often laugh about it now. She made her Vows the following year with Sister Rose Xavier Garrity and Sister Mary Josephine McClory. I made Vows with Sister M. Agnita McCall and Sister Mary Lucy McDermitt. Sister Clarissa was very good in Latin, but I don't know if she ever taught it.
SMCM: Sister, getting back to your Novitiate. What was it like when you were young Sisters? SMK: We had good times. I'll tell you who else was in our group Sister Florence Marie Scott.
She was full oflife. Sister Veronica Scott, Sister to Sr. Florence Marie Scott was in the Novitiate then also, but she wasn't as wild as her sister. One time, we were over at the Bakery and we stole a pie. We took the Curtis method in Music. Miss or Mrs. Curtis was coming to visit us.
Sister M. Angeline Jackson, Sister Mary Eleanor Frederick, and many other Sisters had to take the Course. Sister Helen Cecilia Dwyer wouldn't take it. Her hands were perfect. Mrs.
Robinson was the regular Music teacher for the Summer. She took all of the Piano Teachers together in Sullivan Hall. Sister M. Angeline and her girlfriend Sister Mary Eleanor played. We were in the audience. It was time for the Class to end. The bell rang before it was time to go. I said to Sister Veronica: "Veronica, I'm leaving." Veronica said: "Okay, I'll go with you." Before we could breathe the second time, we were reported. We met Sister Helen Cecilia who said: "You go to Mother Claudia because you have been reported." I said: "What for?" She said: "For leaving class." Veronica said: "Well, Michaele, I'm not going." So, I walked over to see Mother Claudia. On my way in, Sister Mary Eleanor was on her way out crying. I said: "Mother, did you want me?" She said: "Yes, I'm surprised at you walking out of Class." I said: "The Class was over." She said: "The time was over, but the teacher wasn't finished with you." I said: "Well, she didn't do anything with us. She took two other people." She was lovely with me, but she knew I was right all the way through. She said: "Well, you get Sister Veronica, and you go and apologize to that teacher." We went and apologized. Mrs. Curtis was wonderful with us. She took us to the pianos and heard us play. In fact, her cab was there to take her, but she had the driver wait until she finished working with Sister Veronica and me.
Tape II Side 2
SMCM: Sister, how did you choose your name?
SMK: They said I looked like the Sister Anne Xavier Keenan who died. I didn't want the name Anne Xavier. Someone said I should ask for Michaele. I guess I shouldn't have done that
because her Pastor is Michael. First, I didn't like the name, but I've grown to like it now. Every time I go to the Doctor, they say: "How do you spell it?" I say:" Michael with an eon it at the end."
SMCM: Sister, is there anything else you would like to tell us? SMK: No, I think that I have told you enough.
SMCM: How do you feel about the changes that have taken place in the Church and in the Community?
SMK: It has been difficult, but I don't fight against the changes. I do what I can do. I don't relish the changes, but they are something which you have to go through.
SMCM: Sister Michaele, I want to thank you in the name of the Community for giving your time and providing us with so many interesting stories. Our Community is very enthused about the Oral History Program, and are very pleased when the Sisters take part in it.
Sr. Marie Arthur Hamilton: I completed the transcription of the Oral History for Sister Michaele Keenan on Wednesday, March twentieth. Two thousand thirteen.:.2013.
Original Format
Audio cassette tape
Duration
31:00
31:02
31:01
24:28
31:02
31:01
24:28
Bit Rate/Frequency
96kHz
Collection
Other Media
Citation
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, “Oral History: Sister M. Michaele Keenan,” Collections of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives, accessed May 2, 2024, https://scsharchives.com/items/show/680.
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