In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Alma Eugene, CSC
(Imelda Pauline Harmon)
Birth: June 28, 1916
Profession: August 15, 1946
Death: February 12, 2005

Yesterday we celebrated the birth of new directions in the light of the Spirit and hope in all that can be. Today we celebrate a life lived in fidelity for whom the dawn has come. The paradox of life and death.

Sister M. Alma Eugene was born in Maxwell, Calif., to the late Clifton C. Harmon and Josephine K. Reckers Harmon. She received her early education at schools in Colusa and Meridian, Calif., and earned a commercial certificate from Our Lady of Lourdes, Colusa.

Before her entry into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1943, Sister Alma Eugene worked eight years as a stenographer and insurance claim clerk. Sister made her first profession in 1946 and final profession in 1949. In 1945 she began as accountant at Saint Alphonsus Hospital, Boise, Idaho, and continued as accountant at Saint Agnes Hospital, Fresno, Calif., Holy Cross Hospital, San Fernando, Calif., and Holy Cross Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. She then was accountant at Saint Mary’s College, Saint Mary’s Generalate, and Holy Cross Shared Services – all in Notre Dame, Ind. 

When illness began limiting her activities, Sister did volunteer service to the community at Saint Mary’s Convent and was very active in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.

This is the outline of her years of dedicated service, but words on paper do not speak to the fullness of being, the inner quality of a person’s life.

Come with me for a moment, to an image of community as a variety of people – called from east to west, from different continents – gathered together in several large concentric circles. Person to person is connected, as is one circle to another circle. At the center is the same God who activates everyone’s gifts. Each person brings her unique gift that is the manifestation of “the Spirit for the common good.”

Sister Alma Eugene joined this circle, bringing her gift, saying, “Yes, I will covenant with these Sisters of the Holy Cross,” and she inserted her life into the circle. She lived that promise with unreserved generosity despite a prolonged struggle with muscular sclerosis.

Through her lifetime, Almee bore the burden of a poor self-image, at times finding it difficult to even trust God’s love. Psychologists will give us myriad reasons for this to block spiritual transformation. God, on the other hand, is a great one for working with the material at hand. What might have been a block was, instead, grace. Because of her own suffering, there was space for God’s gifts, an emptiness that didn’t use power to fill the void.

It is difficult to specify one of the variety of gifts mentioned by Paul, but healing and discernment of spirits describe Sister Alma Eugene’s presence to others. An amazing variety of people sought and listened to her advice. She was a wisdom figure who quickly discerned the lack of authenticity, but was much more aware of the goodness in others and affirmed their growth.

When a physician who had interacted with Almee 40 years ago was informed of her death, his response was: “I thank the Congregation for the great gift, the great gift of having known and worked with Sister Alma Eugene.”

That response, I think, says it all.

Written by Sister Olivia Marie, CSC

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