In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Monica Clare, CSC
(Kathleen Louise Gaffney)
Birth: November 25, 1902
Profession: February 2, 1948
Death: March 14, 2007

As we gather today, we come to remember and thank God for our sister, Monica Clare, who Wednesday night was reclaimed by God and welcomed home after 104 years.

Kathleen Louise Gaffney was born in Cumberland, Maryland, on November 25, 1902. She was the youngest of 11 children of Irish-born civil engineer James Patrick Gaffney and Agnes Coulehan. After her father died, the family moved to Washington, D.C., where Kathleen attended St. Patrick’s Academy and first met the Sisters of the Holy Cross. This association prompted her older sister, Monica, to enter Holy Cross, where she received the name Sister Clotile.

After graduation, Kathleen worked for 25 years as secretary at the Carry Ice Cream Company, at which time she developed her love for chocolate ice cream. She saw that Sister Clotile and the sisters were supplied with lots of ice cream.

In 1945, 25 years after Sister Clotile’s entrance, Kathleen entered Holy Cross and received the name of Sister Monica Clare. Her first mission as a fifth-grade teacher in New York lasted only five months and perhaps indicated that teaching children was not her gift. She found her gift, however, at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where she spent her first 24 years in the business and admitting office and then eight more years in pastoral ministry to the sick. She loved people and gave joy to patients and their families in her simple, unassuming way.

In 1980, her place of mission changed to Saint Angela Hall, Kensington, Maryland, but she still continued her mission to others—in service to her sisters and especially the alumnae of Holy Cross schools. Eighteen years later she moved to Saint Mary’s to be near Sister Clotile. They were together often during those seven years, until Sister Clotile went home to God.

In our own search to have right relationships, Monica may well show us her way—she was always “other centered,” and whenever you met her, her first words were “How are you?” She would then ask about something that was happening in your life at the time. She had a phenomenal memory—even after reaching the age of over 100.

For years, until she could no longer type, she faithfully corresponded with family and friends with long, newsy letters. When her brother Dick needed help she was there for him and his wife, Virginia. To this day she has been most devoted to her nephew Jerry and his wife, Charlotte, and family. In fact, she went home to God on Jerry’s birthday last week.

As one of her friends put it, “She was a joy to be with—always a smile and a quick, hearty laugh.” Perhaps that was because of her positive outlook on life and her response often was: “Yes, indeedy. Yes, indeedy!”

Yet, on a deeper level, what was it that impelled Monica to share with others her beautiful giftedness? She was deeply aware of who she was and who her God was. On a recent birthday one of the sisters asked her, “Monica, why do you think God allowed you to live to be 101?” To which she replied with a radiant smile, “I think because he loves me.”

When she left us Wednesday, Sister Monica Clare did so as quietly and graciously as she walked this earth. And when God called her by name, we can just hear her response: “Yes, indeedy. Yes, indeedy!”

Written by Sister M. Michaeleen Frieders, 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.