One hundred years ago, January 22, 1913, our dear Aunt Mary Alice was born on the Ely farm northeast of Auburn. This week, we can honor her with our prayers and reflections.
In her later years, when her eyesight and hearing were weak and her body frail, she still had a keen mind. She had memorized many prayers, poems, and important works that helped her meditate. She laughed at her favorite family stories, many of those involving nieces and nephews, and kept her happy spirit. We were so blessed with this remarkable woman.
This is her First Communion photo which was probably taken about 1920
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| July 5, 2006 Loretto Kentucky |
This is her First Communion photo which was probably taken about 1920
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| First Communion, probably about 1920 |
Mary Alice attended the country school for two years. Then the family moved to town where she attended St. Joseph's Parochial School until 10th Grade, the highest grade offered in those days.
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| High School Graduation, 1931
To complete her high school education, Mary Alice attended the Loretto Academy in Kansas City as a boarder and graduated in 1931. She rode the train back and forth for breaks and vacations to Auburn. She went on to Duschene College in Omaha and Loretto Heights in Denver. She entered the novitiate two years after high school on August 15, 1934 at the Loretto Motherhouse in Loretto, Kentucky. Many of you will recognize the hand-writing from the above photo.... Grandma Laura Kerns Ely, of course!
In those days, she was only allowed to visit her home every 4-5 years. This photo is from her first visit in 1940.
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In the 1950s, the order changed their habits. Here is Mary Alice in Auburn in 1953. With the changes in the Church during the 1960s, some orders used secular dress. Also nuns were allowed to study and travel much more extensively. Mary Alice took part in a number of science institutes updating herself for teaching chemistry, biology, physics, and math. She also was able to travel extensively. Before each trip, she would write out adhesive address labels to all the family members..... and we all got cards from places like Russia, Austrailia, and on and on. I always thought that was so sweet of her to plan ahead so well and to include us in her prayers along the way. She never forgot a birthday either!
Her teaching assignments were mostly in high schools in Kansas City, St. Louis, Lebanon Kentucky, and Denver. She was very dedicated to her students, helping them in any possible way. In the last years of teaching, she was a tutor at the Loretto House sometimes working with the same students for several years.
Here are photos of Mary Alice and her brothers in 1969, at their now annual Christmas get-together.
Buzz and Gene are standing. Dick, Mary Alice, and Bill are seated.
Everyone's standing for their 1982 photo taken at the family house, now Buzz's, at 1014 17th Street.
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| Back Row: Brian Dean, Joe, Jim, Bob, Dick, Bill, Mike, John, Carol and Ed Front Row: Linda, Marge, Barb Many family members gathered on April 28, 2008 for Mary Alice's funeral in Kentucky:
Brian wrote a nice account of their visit in 2007 including some very cute stories she shared then. I enjoyed reading this again, Brian.
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