Today I learned that one of my favorite teachers has passed.
I was blessed to attend an outstanding, private, all-girls high school; Ursuline Academy in Dedham, Massachusetts.
I have referenced my school in several posts, including “Perfectionista!” I specifically talk about Sister Ursula (Sister)in my post, “eye lock”
In “eye lock,” Sister Ursula was the nurturing, caring and perceptive teacher who clearly saw through my “stiff-upper-lip-ish-ness” in homeroom on that cold December day. It was the day before my nana died.
As mothers, we have an inherent capacity to identify and detect our children’s needs, fear, sorrow and happiness. We know when something is off with our kids. We can FEEL it.
Sister Ursula was not a biological mother, but I observed on many occasions her innate ability to express that maternal love to her students especially when they were troubled. She extended her love and genuine warmth without appeal. She just knew what to do.
She did this for me, and I will never forget it. She responded to her maternal sense toward me in her homeroom, first period, in Latin 2.
It was the day before my nana died. I knew it was imminent. Although I kept my fear and sadness it to myself (without success, apparently,) she sensed my sorrow and despair within the first minutes of class.
After our opening prayer, she paused, looked at me with her head tilted in compassion and asked, “Mistress Mary, what troubles you so?”
I burst into tears. I sobbed in her embrace, and she just held me and comforted me as mothers do. My classmates looked on silently and respectfully with kindness and compassion. I told her that Nana was not expected to live.
That was correct. She died the next day.
Last May, I attended my 3oth high school reunion which, in itself, is gross and mean and hurts my feelings. Yes, thirty.
Despite the sparse attendance from our class, there was a remarkable connection between us. It was as if we had not lost a moment. Ursuline is a special and unique school whose students have an uncanny bond as sisters. It is a bond which transcends time and does not discriminate concerning graduating year.
Sister Ursula, along with numerous other teachers, both religious and lay, made our experience one of learning, love of learning and just plain love.
I struggled immensely in my formative high school years. I was privately coping with repeated sexual abuse by my grandfather, Nana’s husband. I kept it a secret from my school. Despite that and all my sadness, my school community made me feel loved.
So, in close, here is my testimonial to this remarkable lady.
What a loss to our Ursuline community. Sister Ursula was a dynamic woman whom I will never forget. She was an inspirational and impassioned person. Sister went to great lengths to better our learning with her zeal and candor. She was a lover of art, humanities, sharing her knowledge and being in community.
She had MOXIE.
I will forever remember her for her blessed gift of shining a light on the uniqueness and beauty of each of her students.
One of the many remarkable things she did was to collect a stone from the beach each summer for every one of her homeroom students. She painted it uniquely for each young woman and gifted it on the student’s birthday. On one side she painted a relevant quote. On the other, she painted a picture
Who does that?
I wish that all Ursuline girls had the wonderful gift of Sister. And for those of us who were blessed enough to know her, let her spirit live on in all of us.
Rest in Peace, Sister. Love to you.
That’s All.