Help us remember our Sisters by sharing a story about a Sister who touched your life, or making a gift in their honor.
Sister Dorothy's parents, Mary Smith and George Leising, instilled deep faith in their 9 children, with two sons, ordained as priests, and their daughters Dorothy, Blanche, and Florence all becoming School Sisters of Notre Dame! In her words, “I felt drawn to them in a special way. Their whole-hearted, self-sacrificing lives radiated through every day.” May Dottie’s boundless love and energy permeate our SSND life.
Agnes (Ume) Tashiro's grew up in Japan, becoming a teacher in Kyoto, where she met the SSNDs. After taking vows in 1957, she eventually became the President of ND Women’s College in Kyoto. In 2004, Mary Michael transferred to the AM Province. She is remembered for her love of cooking, singing, and ability to make joyous connections with many people, especially her students. We give thanks for her generous spirit among us.
Pat’s kind and gentle heart was shared with sisters and laity alike. Many will remember her simple greeting, “How are you doing?” After her teaching years in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, her dreams Mission work finally came true. Pat spent 33 years in South America, where she had key responsibilities in the transition of our Latin American missions to become the District of Latin America. Pat walked right into heaven! We’ll miss her, but we can’t take that joy away from her.
In death, we say our ultimate human yes to God. Trusting in God’s power to bring us to the fullness of life, we conclude our earthly life with an act of worship: in the action of death we proclaim God as God, and ourselves as God’s creatures. We are called by God and sent by the community; we go in joy!
- You Are Sent, Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
