“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 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 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.
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“Anniversary Treat” June 13th, 1975
“How is this… for an old memory”…. Three “Sisters of Charity” enjoying an “ice cream cone” on a hot day… June 13th, 1975.”
Autograph Memories pg. 10
June 13, 1975 – A 10-day celebration of the 50th Anniversary of St.Vincent’s Home in Normandy, Missouri – took place with several of the Nuns writing in my Autograph Book. Have a picture of Sister M. Alvira, Sister M. Celestine, and Sister M. Luitraud enjoying an ice cream cone!
Sister Jane Frances was the Nun in charge of health care and the Nurse, with her own office area and infirmary. She was the one that saw to it that we each received a liquid doze of Epsom salts with a glass of water to wash it down. This would take place early morning “Monday” following a “Visiting Day” – even if you did not have visitors – you may have eaten something that a friend gave you – and we all needed to be clean inside and out!
On this day… when several of the NUNS would be at St. Vincent’s – – I was ready to collect some more autographs of the NUNS and class mates – – that would be showing up – – never know who will be here and if someone that – – you have no way of finding… since ( back then we did not have the computers and cell phones to track down old friends.”
It sure is wonderful – – that everyone can find anyone – – so that they can continue to keep in touch – – not the old way – – like we did by telephone and letter writing – – today… you have to have a cell phone and go to “Facebook” – – or one of the electronic communications systems – – so many – – but as long as your fingers can do the “walking” across the “keys” – – you can stay in touch.
From a movie …. some time ago – you may remember the “actress” saying… “I find you!” – – well – – that is the case… today. “If someone wants to find “YOU” – – you will be found!”
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“Is Everyone … Back in School?”
This Photo has one of my very favorite teachers’ – that is “Sister Mary Alvira” – and this is her class of students at German St. Vincent Orphanage.
This Photo may have been taken in the 1980’s – – as Sister Alvira in 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 “HABIT” – – the Nuns would wear – – were just so heavy and full of layers – – and the head gear would cover so much of the face – – that all you could see of the Nuns face… was eyes,nose and mouth.
With this newer style of garments to wear – – must be easier to get ready for the day’s work.
“Sister ALVIRA” was the 5th and 6th grade teacher – – when I was in her classes and I did enjoy having her as a teacher and friend. Sister Alvira had been an orphan and she with her sisters and brother were also in the same Orphanage as children. Four of the girls… decided to enter the same convent and as the youngest of the family “Veronica” became Sister Mary Alvira an a teacher – – and – – she was a very good teacher.
In the days when I was there – – 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 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 “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 would want to do that?
Just thinking about that organ that Sister Gilbert played – – she must have really had strong legs – – since that was an organ that you had to pump with your feet … just to get the beautiful music to come out – – a real worker of leg 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 – – you were also in SCHOOL … all morning – – so there was no way for you to do poorly – – come to think about it – – “No one complained about going to SCHOOL!”
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“Happy Birthday…Sister Mary Alvira”
“Happy Birthday to Sister Mary Alvira… and her Birthday is on October 31st…which is… also… HALLOWEEN!”
Sister Mary Alvira is the NUN sitting on the left of this photo…enjoying an ice cream cone on the Anniversary …a celebration taking place at the German St. Vincent’s Orphan Home.
The NUNS did not pose for pictures…way back when I was a small child at the Orphanage…but today you see more and more photos of the NUNS… but for me NOW… Sister Mary Alvira has passed on to her greater reward – – and it is too late to get photos that would be more current.
The above photo is a good likeness of Sister Mary Alvira…as I remember her. When… I was a very little girl – – and at the HOME – I really did not like her…but – – many years before I came to this HOME… she and her four other sisters were placed in the same Orphanage…I think that there Mother had died… and their Father had no way to take care of them – so they were ORPHANS…and four of these five girls did decide to join the Sisters of Christian Charity – so that they were a part of the Orphanage most of their lives.
Sister Mary Alvira was the youngest of these girls and was a teacher of the 5th and 6th grades … at the time…that – – I came to live here. One of the other siblings – – Sister Mary Emeline also came to serve as a NUN in the Orphanage…and was in charge of the Boys’ Dining Room… and I was assigned to work for her… and she was so nice and kind …that I became a very good friend of her’s for LIFE. Just because Sister Emeline was a blood sister of Sister Mary Alvira – – I changed my way of thinking about Sister M. Alvira – – and she also… became a very good friend…until the day that each of them passed on to the eternity… that they were each in hopes of going too… some day.
My memories are good of each of these sisters…who also became “SISTERS” in the same convent!
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY… SISTER MARY ALVIRA” on 10/31/2015
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