In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Anna, CSC
(Anna Wanda Black)
Birth: July 17, 1917
Profession: August 15, 1938
Death: October 10, 2005

How does one reflect in a few words, the depth, and the treasure of a long life lived in faithful ordinarinous? Oftentimes it is with a list of activities and achievements but with Anna, it is who she was in the core of her being that is the gift that profoundly touched all who knew her.

The love and admiration of her family, siblings and nieces and nephews; the tender, devoted care she received from the nursing staff on all shifts; the friendships she carried from mission to mission; her patient endurance through suffering; and her trust in Divine providence all bare witness to this truth.

Anna didn’t possess a lot of things, but she had a lot of loves. These loves for the most part were always for giving to other people. She loved to sing, make fudge, make three-minute phone calls, type letters (because no one could read her handwriting), write poetry and just talk. Talking was a ministry for her and she gave it her all. Probably about 10 years ago she lost her ability to type and so was unable to write letters. This past year she pretty much lost her ability to talk so that others could really understand her. However, she never complained and she never stopped talking. Little by little this gentle woman, full of grace, modeled for us how to let go and let God. That letting go with trust in Divine Providence, and her ability to laugh at herself and circumstances out of her control, are part of the gift of whom Anna was inside and out.

A day or two before Anna died, one of the sisters said to her, “Anna, you know everyone around here thinks you are a sweetheart,” and Anna answered in one of her more understandable tones: “I know it.” This response came not from a sense of pride or arrogance, but from a deep knowledge that to know it was to compliment her Creator. Anna’s faith was raw and real and carried her securely through every season of life.

Anna was the ninth of 10 children born to Katie and Frank Black in Morris, Illinois. As she would say, she was blessed with five sisters – Alice, Marie, Agnes, Sister Antonella and Sister Lorraine – and four brothers – George, Eddy, August and John – and, of course, a large and loving extended family.

One of Anna’s favorites loves was writing poetry for various family and friends’ events. In reading her poetry, Anna’s contemplative spirituality, her sensitivity for others’ suffering, her understanding of human dynamics and her sheer joy for her family are all very evident.

Anna began her ministry in religious life as an elementary school teacher and expanded it to parish ministry; then to sacristan at Sacred Hearth Church, Notre Dame, Indiana; and finally to prayer ministry at Saint Mary’s Convent. For Anna, what she did wasn’t as important as how she was able to be present to the people and Church that she loved to serve. If you ever spent time with Anna, you knew this from inside out. One of our lovely partners in ministry who cared for Anna these past months at the convent reflected this reality to Sister Lorraine when she said: “You know when you first come to work here at the convent, you come for money; but soon after you realize you stay working here for the sisters.”

In having to let go of so many of her capacities these past 10 years, Anna suffered much but never complained. Her faith, family, community and friends and her zest for life accompanied her to the end.

We love you, Anna, and will miss your presence here. Thank you for the gift of your life and for the example of your faith. You loved poetry and so I want to close with a poem by a modern poet, Mary Oliver, titled “In Backwater Woods.”

To live in this world
You must be able
To do three things:
To love what is mortal;
To hold it against your bones
Knowing your own life depends on it;
And, when the time comes to let it go,
To let it go.

Written by Sister Joy O’Grady, 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.