Sr. Mary Immaculata, First Grade Teacher

Artifact courtesy: Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin

Sr. Mary Immaculata, our first grade teacher, was a favorite of many students at St. Thomas Aquinas.  She taught first grade for more than 50 years.  This photo was on an invitation sent out to STA parishioners.

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish

cordially invites you to participate

in the

SISTER IMMACULATA MEMORIAL DINNER

Friday, October 22nd, 1976

at the Diplomat West

681 West North Avenue (at Route 83)

Elmhurst, Illinois

Cocktails at 6:30 P. M.

Dinner at 7:30 P. M.

Entertainment and dancing after dinner

$15.00 per person - Cash Bar

SISTER MARY IMMACULATA AT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS PARISH

"The doors of St. Thomas Aquinas School opened in September of 1909. Among the first Sisters of Mercy to teach in the new school was Sister Mary Immaculata, RSM.

"Surely one of the most solidifying factors in the growth of St. Thomas School through the years was her loving presence and constant concern for the little ones who for over 60 years were placed in her care.
Sister worked for many pastors and many principals, all of whom recognized her unusual dedication and determination to remain at St. Thomas Aquinas School. Sister shared her own personal happiness and love with all of us who were fortunate enough to have known her.

"Each school year, Sister Immaculata was again back in Room 4. We expected her to be there, we hoped she would be there, and we were never disappointed, Can anyone doubt that she is still there?

"Certainly it would be safe to say that not one of her 3,000 students, if asked today, "Who was your first grade teacher?" would hesitate one second in saying, "Sister Mary Immaculata." She was not a person one easily forgets.

"At present, the Sisters of Mercy are no longer at St. Thomas School. The school is staffed by lay teachers under the direction of Miss Ann Mulkerin, Principal, who not surprisingly, was a pupil of Sister Immaculata.
A very competent staff now carries on the work of Sister Immaculata.

"First Grade, Mrs. Helen Cook; Second Grade, Miss Paulette Jackson; Third Grade, Miss Mary Kate Gallagher; Fourth Grade, Mrs. Kathleen Staudemeyer; Fifth and Sixth Grades, Miss Carmina Buonomo, Miss Maureen Daly and Mrs. Rose Koch; Seventh and Eighth Grades, Mrs. Deidre Popolis and Mr. Michael Parham.

"Also, we have initiated a program for the little ones by opening a Pre-school, taught by Mrs. Robetta Gipson and two rooms of Kindergarten children, taught by Mrs. Linda Stallworth and Mrs. Elizabeth Hall.
St. Thomas Rectory has, at present, a Team Pastorate; Father John J. McCarville and Father John W. Murray. Our former member of the Team Pastorate, Father Charles R. Tobin, will being work at St. Mark's after the first of the year.

"So, thank you, Sister Immaculata, for giving us a past; we hope and pray that we can continue with your zeal and enthusiasm to make St. Thomas Aquinas the kind of place you always knew it could be."

Taken from the program of the dinner memorializing the life of Sister Mary Immaculata, RSM, in the fall of 1976.  Source: Sisters of Mercy Archives/St. Thomas Aquinas School - Class of 1955 

The Webmaster of the 1955 STA Reunion Class graciously encourage placement of the program text on our site.  She hoped some of us would know of  "missing" 1955 STA graduates and direct them to their site.