In Loving Memory...

Sister Elizabeth Marie, CSC
(Catherine O’Connor)
Birth: August 11, 1912
Profession: August 15, 1935
Death: May 18, 2007

The strength and the beauty we have been privileged to experience in and through the person of Sister Elizabeth Marie (Catherine O’Connor) will forever give us inspiration. Although she was small of stature, no challenge was too great nor situation too difficult for Elizabeth; she was willing to face all with her quiet determination and strong, unwavering commitment to what was right.

Martin and Elizabeth McMahon O’Connor, natives of Pennsylvania, moved to Ogden, Utah, where they reared their four children: Mary Elizabeth, mother of Louise, David and Jean who are with us today; Catherine (Sister Elizabeth Marie), Louise (Sister Xavier) and Margaret (Sister Mercedes). The mystery of God’s providence brought an early death to Mrs. O’Connor. Mr. O’Connor, faced with the unknowns of rearing four young daughters, did have the support of many family members and good friends.

I have heard from primary sources that Martin had something of a challenge retaining housekeepers because of the liveliness of these four young girls. Among creative resolutions to problems the children met was the following: it seems that Margaret, being the youngest, did not always fit into the playtime activities of the three older girls, so they found a harmless solution: They attached a cord to the clothesline, then fastened it onto Margaret. She could have relatively free rein and yet not interfere with their games! The enrollment of the girls at Sacred Heart Academy in Ogden brought a nurturing presence to the family as well as the establishment of lifelong friendships not only with the religious sisters but with many people in the Ogden community.

Elizabeth’s accomplishments were many; she was an excellent English and forensics teacher in Utah, California, Idaho and Nevada. Many of her students won trophies for outstanding performances. Elizabeth was recognized for her service to the civic and church community, especially in her native Ogden; her devotedness to the ministry to the elderly, to the homebound, and to those who were ill was deeply appreciated.

Throughout her life Elizabeth did all things with strong commitment and loving compassion. One of Elizabeth’s rather widely recognized values was thrift. The following true story illustrates this quality: After coming to Saint Mary’s both she and one of her close sister friends recognized that Elizabeth needed a new jacket. After unsuccessful searches in a couple of the moderately priced stores, her friend suggested that perhaps the Goodwill Store might have something. A jacket was identified, but when Elizabeth saw the $5 price tag, she refused it. Her friend escaped for a few minutes, went to a clerk, asked him to mark down the tag to $2; she then gave him the $3 difference. The enterprising friend presented her with the bargain find; both proceeded to the cashier with this costly purchase and a sense of deep satisfaction.

Elizabeth rarely spoke of herself or any special recognition she received. On occasion, however, she referred to one special treasure; it was a poem, which Sister Madeleva, whom she had come to know in Utah, had written for her on the occasion of her reception of the habit.

What was the source of Elizabeth’s great fortitude? Surely her Irish Catholic heritage, which placed great emphasis on family bonds, was a factor. Another was a deep loyalty to her Catholic faith; growing up in an environment in which Catholics were a minority and in which there were efforts to maintain the dominance of a different culture gave Elizabeth a strong sense of loyalty to her beliefs.

Sister Elizabeth’s lifelong practice and appreciation of prayer sustained her, especially during these last years. St. Paul’s petition expressed in Ephesians took deep root in her, for early on God illumined the eyes of her heart as she beheld Ogden Canyon, the Great Salt Lake, Ben Lomond, the Wasatch Mountains, Lake Powell, Bryce and Zion canyons; by her family and friends, by our Holy Cross family, our co-workers, in particular the nursing staff, by her students and the Ogden senior citizens. Truly all those to whom Elizabeth ministered, whether through prayer or through her last physical ministry of carefully folding the church linens here in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, illumined the eyes of her heart. But most wondrously her daily meeting with Christ in the Eucharist illumined the eyes of her heart as she beheld the autumn beauty while she always remained those extra moments in adoration and thanksgiving. And now those blessed illumined eyes of her loving heart are fixed forever upon the face of God.

Written by Sister Patricia Ann Thompson, 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.