In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Beatrice, CSC
(Dorothy Louise Thomas)
Birth: December 22, 1922
Profession: February 2, 1944
Death: October 28, 2005

Sister Beatrice, Dorothy Louise Thomas, served God and God’s people as a Sister of the Holy Cross for 64 years. She gave loving care in the education of children in the first grade for 20 years in Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; Alexandria, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City and Batavia, New York, with the exception of one year as a social worker at Saint Joseph Home and School.

Afterward, she served the sick as a licensed practical nurse for 21 years in Columbus, Ohio; San Fernando and Oakland, California; Cairo, Illinois; and in various places in the Washington, D.C., area.

A former student from Saint Peter’s Parish School on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., remembers Sister Beatrice as a “super nice teacher.” By fifth grade, he and his classmates realized that Sister Beatrice wasn’t much taller than they were, and that Sister Daniel (Frailey), their fourth-grade teacher, was perhaps the tallest person they would ever meet.

When I was a first-grade student, our classroom at Saint Peter’s was next to Sister Beatrice’s room. As we quietly did our lessons we could hear a lot of activity on the other side of the classroom wall. Sister Beatrice said her favorite time of day with the children was recess when she was involved with their basketball, jump rope, jacks and marbles. These activities helped her get to know her students better.

Sister Beatrice said of her nursing that she was particularly happy when her Upjohn assignments involved care of small babies. Their crying never bothered her at all. One assignment through Upjohn was to care for a gentleman dying of cancer, who was a distant relative of Sister Mildred Louise (Keefe). Sister Beatrice’s professional, caring approach for the patient and family so eased their pain and sorrow that they still express their great gratitude.

A few phrases that describe Sister Beatrice are: She was “one funny lady;” “clever, comical, everyone’s friend;” “a darling, a dear and fun to be with.” “We all loved her big, brown, smiling eyes.” Others commented that she was full of life, a delightful person and a joy to be with.

Born in 1922 in Pueblo, Colorado, Dorothy – Sister Beatrice – was the oldest of four children of Jessie Albert Thomas and Mary Refugio Sierra. There were three daughters and a son. When she was 18, the family moved to Washington, D.C., where her father took a position at the U.S. Government Printing Office. They became parishioners of Saint Thomas the Apostle parish.

Dorothy attended Dunbarton College, where she got to know Holy Cross. In 1940 the family decided not to have a Christmas tree. Upon their return from midnight Mass, Dorothy left a note in the usual spot for the tree, which said she planned to go to Saint Mary’s in Notre Dame, Indiana, to become a Sister of the Holy Cross. Sister Ann Francis (Peach) helped her with her preparations and she entered the Congregation August 2, 1941.

Her brother, John, has died, but her sisters, Patricia and Jean, have fond memories of their big sister. “She made many people happy.” “She was the best big sister in the whole world.” “Her visits home to the family were so good.”

Sister Beatrice’s last years were spent at Saint Mary’s, where she continued her ministry of prayer. On October 28, her precious and loving God called her home.

Sister Beatrice, your family and your Holy Cross family, all those whose lives you so joyously graced with humor and love, say “thank you.” Thank you! Gracias! Thank you!

Written by Sister M. Kathryn Edward, 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.