In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Joan Grandi, CSC
(Elizabeth Yandl)
Birth: February 18, 1908
Profession: August 15, 1927
Death: May 21, 2004

The following article was written by Mary Patricia Dowling. It appeared in the South Bend Tribune, October 27, 1991, and is reprinted with permission.

Nun fills role at public school
An elderly Catholic nun, dressed in the traditional headpiece of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is not a common sight at many public elementary schools.

But Sister Joan Grandi, 83, is a familiar – and affectionately welcomed – sight at Marshall School. She’s been tutoring children there for 19 years.

You could say it’s her neighborhood school. And she shares her well-tuned teaching skills in a neighborly way.

She walks to Marshall three mornings a week from her home at the Sisters of Our Lady of Holy Cross convent in the hills of Erskine Manor, off Miami Street. Sister Grandi takes the shortcut, out the back gate of the convent property, adjacent to the schoolyard.

“It doesn’t make any difference,” she said of her religious affiliation. “The staff has accepted me.”

The praises sung over Sister Grandi’s volunteer work spell out feelings far beyond acceptance. “She’s indispensable,” said principal Ed Bradford. “She’s very versed, very knowledgeable. And everybody loves her.”

Sister Grandi shares her knowledge with two or three children at a time, giving the individualized attention a classroom teacher can’t always find time for.

“She helps them with everything,” said third-grade teacher, Arlene Fleischaker, mentioning several of the subjects in which Sister Grandi tutors. “Sometimes she’s even counselor,” Fleischaker said of the tutor’s willingness to listen to any troubles a child might want to share.

During one session last week, Sister Grandi had two boys take turns reading from their journals. They had been writing about a variety of subjects including books they’d read, personal experiences and a field trip to the post office.

Carl Winkel read what he had written about the trip. After the post office tour, Carl had to board the bus without having bought stamps from the machine because his young peers had “hogged” it. The slang word for not sharing prompted a brief discussion on its meaning. “OK. They ‘hogged’ them,” Sister Grandi allowed, obviously enjoying the content of the journal writings, while reinforcing spelling, grammar and punctuation lessons. “I’ll have to bring you a stamp on Wednesday when I come,” she said.

Learning has been a two-way street between Sister Grandi and the children at Marshall. In Patrick Battle’s journal he mentioned a popular video game. “Mario ... I think that should be capitalized,” Sister Grandi pointed out. “Because it’s a special game.”

She watches the words on the journal page as the student reads and tactfully points out errors: “S-U-M is when you add something. That’s in your math book,” she said, correcting a homonym.

“I enjoy their enthusiasm and their willingness to work with me,” she said of the students. “They’re very, very good.”

Sometimes a math concept is difficult for a student and understanding comes only after much repetition on Sister Grandi’s part. When the student finally “gets it,” Sister Grandi shares the pride and satisfaction. “It makes not only the child feel good, but I feel good, too.”

Marshall is one in a long line of schools at which Sister Grandi has taught. She spent nine years at Holy Cross School, followed by a short tenure at St. Patrick’s before health problems necessitated her giving up a full-day schedule.

Her South Bend teaching assignments brought her back home after teaching at schools in Austin, Texas, Washington, D.C., East Chicago, and Elkhart.

Sister Grandi said she was glad to have had the experiences that took her to different parts of the country, but was happy to come back to South Bend.

“I was born on Scott Street,” she said.

Now, she still gets to do what comes naturally – teach – without venturing far from home.

“I like to walk all the way around to the front door (of Marshall school) when the weather is nice,” she said.

When the weather’s not so nice she shortens her stroll by using the closest entrance. Sister Grandi can depend on one of the other sisters at the convent giving her a ride to school when there’s too much snow to trudge through.

How long does she plan to continue? “As long as the good Lord gives me the strength.”

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.