"...moving to St. Edward with her parents in 1902. She taught school locally until entering St. Clara Convent as Novitiate in 1914 and became a nun in the Dominican Order. She taught in several schools in Illinois, Washington, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin and was Superior or principal at some of them. She was Mistress of Novices for 10 years at St. Clara's where she trained about 500 young nuns. She was next Prioress where she was responsible for the management of the Convent, including the buildings, farm land, dairy, orchards and gardens. Next she became Prioress of Rosary College in River Forest, IL which is the Dominican College for their Order. She then taught in several schools before retiring to the Convent where she managed the preparation of the food supply. It is said that you could tell her literally anything or come to her with any problem and she could always hear and be filled with compassion, or to the remembrances and care of individual sisters, pupils or relatives. That was the great breadth of her life: her good sense, her intelligence and her feeling. She passed away in 1981 at St. Dominique Villa in Dubuque, IA and is buried next to her sister at St. Clara Convent in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.
A BA degree from Rosary and an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY plus a certificate in Theology were the professional accomplishments to her excellent teaching ministry. She loved children as was evidenced in her 59 years "on the missions", beginning with St. John's, Milwaukee in 1912. In 1923 she organized Our Lady of Refuge School, NY and was its first principal and prioress until 1929. From then on until she retired in 1968 she taught or was principal of schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and South Dakota.
She was Superior of Convents in Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She did "special things" while at Chicago St. Thomas Apostle as library manager after she retired from teaching at age 79. She continued to write and tape Bible stories for children after she retired to St. Clara Convent and St. Dominique Villa in
Dubuque, IA.
After a year of retirement she was one of the first four nuns to volunteer for St. Martin House, Peoria, IL to live in the integrated neighborhood of St. Patrick's parish. Upon its successful beginning, she returned to St. Clara Convent as advanced years took more toll of her health; but she continued engaging in her many interests: needlework, writing, contacts with sisters and events in the organization's busy life until shortly before her death in 1977 of bronchopneumonia.
She was charitable, had a positive attitude toward everyone and everything. She was truly dedicated not only to the Church and her religious life, but also to her family and people everywhere. She is buried at St. Clara Convent in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. An Emmaus window in the Convent Chapel clerestory was designated to her honor." [Greg Flaherty]
From Rita
To all: The Sisters are Aunt Ceil and Aunt Lel - long deceased. They used to come and visit Gramma and Grampa (about twice in my lifetime) and I remember Mother baking a load of goodies for them at Christmas time. They always wore their "habits" - never saw them in anything else - and they were always to clean and straight. There is someone here (I think I remember) that used to that could give me the name of the nunnery where they lived and taught. I will try to find out where that was.
From Moni Burrows Jansen:
The back of this photo reads In Grandma’s own handwriting: “At the home of Claire, Zeta, Marge Flaherty, Mary & Ella Flaherty, Sr. Marie Genevieve, Sr. Ambrose, Claire Fisher Hewitt and Mrs. F. P. Flaherty (Norma)”. I know the two Dominican Sisters are Grandpa’s sisters but I haven’t a clue as to the rest of the women and their relationship to Grandma. I love that she wrote Mrs. F.P. Flaherty- so proudly
Perhaps my middle name, Claire, came from one of these women?
> Could any of the cousins identify and give us the history? Also, that sure looks a lot like Aunt Alice hanging onto Grandma’s shoulder? The DATE reads: Nov 9, 1967, Omaha, NE.
Ellen Nora Flaherty
"... she was 16 when she moved with her family to St. Edward, NE. She graduated High School at St. Francis Academy in Columbus, NE....entered St. Clara convent as a Novitiate in 1911 and became a nun in the Dominican Order where the Motherhouse is at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.A BA degree from Rosary and an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY plus a certificate in Theology were the professional accomplishments to her excellent teaching ministry. She loved children as was evidenced in her 59 years "on the missions", beginning with St. John's, Milwaukee in 1912. In 1923 she organized Our Lady of Refuge School, NY and was its first principal and prioress until 1929. From then on until she retired in 1968 she taught or was principal of schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and South Dakota.
She was Superior of Convents in Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She did "special things" while at Chicago St. Thomas Apostle as library manager after she retired from teaching at age 79. She continued to write and tape Bible stories for children after she retired to St. Clara Convent and St. Dominique Villa in
Dubuque, IA.
After a year of retirement she was one of the first four nuns to volunteer for St. Martin House, Peoria, IL to live in the integrated neighborhood of St. Patrick's parish. Upon its successful beginning, she returned to St. Clara Convent as advanced years took more toll of her health; but she continued engaging in her many interests: needlework, writing, contacts with sisters and events in the organization's busy life until shortly before her death in 1977 of bronchopneumonia.
She was charitable, had a positive attitude toward everyone and everything. She was truly dedicated not only to the Church and her religious life, but also to her family and people everywhere. She is buried at St. Clara Convent in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. An Emmaus window in the Convent Chapel clerestory was designated to her honor." [Greg Flaherty]
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| Aunt Alice with Aunt Ceil Aunt and Lel. |
From Rita
To all: The Sisters are Aunt Ceil and Aunt Lel - long deceased. They used to come and visit Gramma and Grampa (about twice in my lifetime) and I remember Mother baking a load of goodies for them at Christmas time. They always wore their "habits" - never saw them in anything else - and they were always to clean and straight. There is someone here (I think I remember) that used to that could give me the name of the nunnery where they lived and taught. I will try to find out where that was.
 |
| Aunt Charlotte with Aunt Ceil and Aunt Lel. |
 |
| Photo taken by Bill Burrows a few years back when he and his wife visited Sinsinawa. |
From Moni Burrows Jansen:
The back of this photo reads In Grandma’s own handwriting: “At the home of Claire, Zeta, Marge Flaherty, Mary & Ella Flaherty, Sr. Marie Genevieve, Sr. Ambrose, Claire Fisher Hewitt and Mrs. F. P. Flaherty (Norma)”. I know the two Dominican Sisters are Grandpa’s sisters but I haven’t a clue as to the rest of the women and their relationship to Grandma. I love that she wrote Mrs. F.P. Flaherty- so proudly
Perhaps my middle name, Claire, came from one of these women?> Could any of the cousins identify and give us the history? Also, that sure looks a lot like Aunt Alice hanging onto Grandma’s shoulder? The DATE reads: Nov 9, 1967, Omaha, NE.
Nick Burrows Memories
Sister Mary Ambrose and Sr. Marie Genevieve were great people. Both fantastic educators in the Dominican order and multiple schools as listed earlier. I was lucky because in my College years and early teaching career, they both live 10 miles away @ the Sinsinawa mound in Sinsinawa ,Wisconsin where they both got their vows @ St. Clara Convent. Couple of good stories were on Sunday eve. I would take about 6 of my college buddies from the Dorm floor over for a fantastic meal @ the request of Sr. Ambrose. She loved those guys as did Sr. Marie Genevieve, of course she never let us pay for anything. After the meal she would load us up with mound bread and their famous Caramel/cinnamon rolls for all of us. There were times some of my friends would argue who got to go because we only had 1 car back then...........They gave us all a tour of the whole facility ,incredible history. I remember most the laundry room where they would wash all their clothes and press with Starch through a big roller .Both sisters smelled like starch. When it came time to be hired for a job, Sr. Ambrose called the principal @ St. Joe's Dubuque, IA. why I should be hired ."Cause I was their grand nephew that's why," I was told. After 6 years and a masters in counseling I applied to Edgewood of the Sacred Heart in Madison, Wis. Sr. Ambrose once again called the principal Sr. Kathleen, another great Dominican, who was the Cheerleading advisor to Sioux City Heelan in 1954.She told us she made the girls sew rocks in the hem of their skirts so they would not go up. She left Heelan and was principal for 29 years @ Edgewood. Both Sister Ambrose and Sister Marie Genevieve were in charge of all those nuns and Sr. Kathleen was a novice mistress as they called them back then. Once again, Sr. Ambrose called Sr. Kathleen told her I was her grand nephew from good stock. Consequently the interview was only 20 minutes," I was told better hire you !"....Over the years many Dominican told me the same story about them ,St. Ambrose :Fun loving ,character ,sometimes let the nuns get a little freedom and a fun teacher............Sr.Marie Genivieve much more serious , strict as an associate of Mother Superior and a very strict principal. Toward the end of their life ,they both were peeling apples for apple pies @ the Mound. They are buried together in the Mound cemetery with all those dedicated nuns. If you ever get a chance to go, it is one impressive place and still full of hospitality......................Cousin Nick
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