“Happy Birthday Sister Mary Alvira”

Oct 31st “Happy Birthday Sister Mary Alvira”

“Happy Birthday Sister Mary Alvira”

“Is Everyone … Back in School?”

This Photo has one of my very favorite teachers’ – and that is “Sister Mary Alvira” – sitting on the right side of this PHOTO with her class of students at German St. Vincent Orphanage.

This Photo may have been taken in the 1980’s – as “Sister Alvira” is now wearing the newer type of style of “Nun’s Habit” as it was called – and if you ever get to see some of the older styles of their “HABIT” – that the Nuns would wear – they were just so heavy and long and full of layers – and their head gear would cover so much of their face – that all you could see of the Nuns’ face would be their eyes, nose and mouth.

With this newer style of “habit” “garments to wear” – must now be easier to get ready for their day’s work.

“Sister ALVIRA” was our 5th and 6th grade teacher – when I was in her classes (1940’s) and I did enjoy having her as our teacher and my friend.

Sister Alvira had been an orphan also – she with her sisters and brother were in this very same Orphanage as children. Four of the five girls did decide to enter the “Sisters of Christian Charity” convent and as the youngest of the family “Veronica” became, “Sister Mary Alvira” a very fine teacher – and – she was also my very good teacher and friend, till the day she left here, for her eternal reward with the Almighty Yahweh!

In those days when I was there, at St. Vincent’s – we would gather into the 7th and 8th grade class room, to rehearse the music and singing of the songs that we would be singing in Church.

“Sister Alvira” had a very distinctive voice – she was an “alto” and there were very few of the Orphans with the same “Alto Voice” and they with “Sister Alvira,” would be seated together in “Sister Gilbert’s” class room for better harmony – and “Sister Gilbert” was the one to play the organ – so that we would have the music – so that she would know that we were all singing in the correct “key” to make the best of the songs.

They both had a very good “ear” to hear which of us were singing off “key” – and “who” of us … would want to do that?

Just thinking about that “organ” that “Sister Gilbert” played – she must have had some really strong legs – since that was an “organ” which you would have had to pump hard and long with your feet, just to get the beautiful music to come out – a real worker for developing of the legs – a terrific exercise.

Back in those days – we did receive a very good education – in fact, if you were really paying attention – you would fly through your first year of “HIGH SCHOOL” – and the teachers had us learn enough to carry us well beyond – we spent more hours daily in school, and if you did not have work to do on SATURDAY – then, you were also in “SCHOOL” all the morning hours till noon time for dinner – so there was no way for you to do poorly – come to think about it – “No one, ever complained about going to SCHOOL!”

“Have the very best of all BIRTHDAYS, “Sister MARY ALVIRA” in HEAVEN – with the rest of your FAMILY and FRIENDS!” D.V.

… and just a few more thoughts …

“Halloween Birthday” Remembered

Today is Halloween, and also the birthday of one of my very good friends, Sister Mary Alvira!

Sister is of the order, Sisters of Christian Charity, and was my 5th and 6th grade teacher , at German St, Vincent’s Orphan Home, and that was in 40’s.

She had told me her first name was Veronica, when she was at St. Vincent’s, with her four sisters and a brother. Sister Alvira was the baby of the their family and loved, helped, and encouraged so much so… that she was a favorite friend of a lot of us “Orphans” that were destined, one day… to be in her classroom.

Time sure goes by in a hurry – have to put on my thinking cap – so glad … you called me when you did, some years later … long after leaving St. Vincent’s, and wanted me to find our friend, Gail P., – and bring her out to see you, while you were finishing up your last “Tour of Duty at St. Vincent’s.”

It was good for us to have that last and final time to remember and talk about a whole lot of nothing! As… You then went to the “Mother House” in Wilmette, IL – that was a nice long drive – and was once again, with Sister Emeline and your other sisters who had also became “Nuns.”

As one gets older, (that would be me) one finds most old memories are “Happy and Beautiful” of the “Good Old Days!” Give Sister Emeline a warm “Hug and Kiss” from me and all my family — we love you both!