In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Alma, CSC
(Lucille Rose Peter)
Birth: July 28, 1909
Profession: August 15, 1930
Death: March 7, 2008

Sister Alma was born in Woodstock, Illinois, on July 28, 1909, to August Charles Peter, a realtor by profession, and Mary Niehaus, a housewife. Alma’s ancestry is French, German and a little bit of Irish. Her paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Alsace-Lorraine in northeastern France. She had two older sisters, Esther and Agnes, and a younger sister, Adeline. There was a brother who died in infancy. She has two nieces, three nephews, and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

In the brief autobiography she wrote when she moved to Saint Mary’s Convent, Sister Alma stated that her earliest family memory was of the time when she was about 4 years old and all four of the girls had scarlet fever at the same time.

Sister Alma’s first 12 years of schooling were spent at Saint Mary’s Elementary and High schools in Woodstock with the Sisters of the Holy Cross. During high school she realized she had a vocation to religious life and she entered the congregation soon after graduation. She was influenced by the sisters who were always so happy and kind and understanding. One sister in particular made an impression on her—Sister Una, who taught her all four years in high school. It was during the Depression, and Sister Una helped her to acquire the necessary wardrobe prior to entering in 1928. Sister Alma received the habit on August 15, 1928, made first vows on August 15, 1930, and made her final vows on August 15, 1933.

Sister Alma began her college education at Saint Mary’s College and completed it at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, California, in 1937 with a major in chemistry. At the time she was teaching at Good Shepherd Elementary School in Beverly Hills, California. From 1937 to 1945, she taught chemistry at Saint Agnes High School and at Conaty High School in Los Angeles. In 1945 she returned to the Midwest to teach chemistry at her alma mater, Saint Mary’s in Woodstock, for a year before being assigned as assistant principal at Bishop Noll High School in Hammond, Indiana. During these years of teaching in high school, Sister Alma completed a master’s degree in chemistry at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 1950 Sister Alma was assigned to teach chemistry at Saint Mary’s College. This was the beginning of her 34 years at the college. She served as director of admissions and dean of freshmen, academic dean, acting president after the death of Msgr. McGrath during the merger/non-merger negotiations, assistant to President Duggan, and director of programs abroad. During her years of ministry at the college, Sister Alma traveled extensively through Europe, visiting Saint Mary’s students who were participating in foreign programs with the University of Notre Dame. In recognition of sister’s outstanding service to Saint Mary’s College, the college awarded her an honorary degree in 1970. The University of Notre Dame recognized her many contributions by presenting her with an honorary doctor of law degree in 1972.

My most enduring memory of Sister Alma is the day she stood alone on the stage of Saint Mary’s O’Laughlin Auditorium, after the students were notified of the termination of the plans for a merger with Notre Dame. For 40 minutes a quietly resolute Sister Alma responded to angry questions from a disappointed student body that had been demonstrating against the college administration for the benefit of the local and regional news media.

Sister Alma became superior at the College Convent in 1984 and served in that office for nine years. After her 90th birthday she retired to Saint Mary’s Convent, where she continued her interest in literary and cultural activities through audio books, videos and TV. She kept in touch with her friends and relatives with her trusty computer.

A year ago when Alma was near death, I had to be away for two weeks. I had said goodbye to her and asked Sister Georgia to give this memento. Before I returned, Alma called Georgia into her room and said she wanted two things added to her memento. The first was that when she was changed away from Bishop Noll High School, some boys came to help her clean out her classroom. They asked her if the change was a promotion or a demotion for her. She replied that sisters did not get promotions or demotions, just changes of assignment. The other was that at Pentecost she was given a card with a gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit for her to expect and practice the coming year. The first was “Long-suffering,” and the second was “Peace.” Alma wanted us to know that during the past year she has experienced a great deal of both. Georgia noticed that, taped to the closet door that faced her in her bed, was a sign in large letters with the word, “Unconditional.”

Written by Sister Mary Jeanne Finske, 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.