Helen, her Baptismal name, was born in Newark, New Jersey, and her life centered around St. Peter's parish and school. It was the center of her religious and educational life but it also provided many parish fairs, picnics, and trips to Olympic Amusement Park.
It would seem that Helen's early life would lead her to a rather "typical" religious life especially since her religious life began in 1937. When she arrived at Asquith Street, Baltimore, life there and for many years after would be far from the religious mode of life which she led in her later life.
In her autobiography, S. Aveline speaks of teaching various grades for some thirty years in four states. Typical of that time in religious life!
But that soon changed. Thanks to S. Aveline's kindness to the family of one of her students, the student's mother taught Sister to drive. It seems there was not much holding Sister down after that! She soon requested to change her ministry and became a receptionist, admitting clerk, and switchboard operator at St. James Hospital in Newark for 17 years. Because Sister found commuting from St. Leo's Convent to the hospital difficult, she managed to get a second-hand car. This car was well used - not just for getting to work - but for driving other sisters to various appointments.
This gift continued when she went to Wilton and continued to be an available driver as well as the coordinator of transportation for the Wilton Complex. In between times, she assisted in the finance office.
When it was time to retire, Sister found much pleasure in crocheting and card playing. But then a new love entered her life - Adult Coloring. Her talent at combining beautiful colors in very intricate designs is well known by the Sisters in Wilton and in Ozanam Hall where Sister is now residing.
Who knows what new talent she will discover as she enters into another decade of life?
