Sister Grace and Browny, or Sister Theophane part II

During the 1970's both the names and the styles of the habits the nuns wore changed. Each order had different regulations and changed at a different time. Sister Theophane became Sister Grace and no longer wore the old habit. Her teaching style remained the same, however.

It is told that on the first day Sister Grace wore her new shorter skirt, she noticed that the children were staring at her legs and feet.
"Well, " she said, "what did you expect -wheels?"

Browny was a neighborhood pet who belonged to Maryann & Dick LaMay. Every day Browny and several other dogs visited their friends at Immaculate Conception School, but none of the canines loved school as much as Browny. She loved to stay right in the classroom with the children, sleeping peacefully while they learned their lessons.

On occasion, the whole group would take a break to play and laugh, then Maryann would have to come to school and take Browny home for the day. When class photos were taken, Browny posed proudly right next to Sister Grace, her favorite teacher.

A letter to Indian Rock in response to our inquiry about the names of the children in Browny's class:

My name is Ann Marie Golding-Lull. I read the article in this weeks Harlem
Valley Times. I am one of the students in the picture that is shown with the
article. When I looked at the picture before reading the article I realized
that it was my class picture. I think that picture was taken when I was in
the 2 nd grade.It brought back the fond memories of when I was a child going
to ICS. I still know all the students names in my class.

from left to right
top row :Richard Ellis,Shonnan Quinn, Mark Leopole, Steven Norbert, Frank
Cooper, bottom row left to right: Ann Marie Golding, Tonya Melman, Melissa
Mercay, Mary Piggott, Mary Lamont and Monica Anderson.Hopefully this helped
solved the mystery for this one picture.

Do you have more Sister Theophane stories? E-mail us at IndianRockschool@aol.com

Sister Grace (Sister Theophane)

There are people and places we return to in our minds. We return to them because they give us solace and strength, and because they have served to make us who we are. One of the most memorable people in my life is Sr. Grace, or Sr. Theophane, as we knew her at the Immaculate Conception School in 1962.

Funny, formidable, friendly and firm: these are four words that described Sr. Grace. She did not brook nonsense, but she loved to laugh. She expected the best from her students, but not perfection. She punctuated our days with amusing stories, and a rare, self-effacing wit. One story I recall was about a mother who had unexpected company for Sunday dinner. She took two of her children aside, and told them to say, “No, thank you,” when the platter of chicken was passed at the table. When it came time to serve dessert, the mother said, “As for those who refused to eat their chicken, you’ll be having no pie!"

Photo: Sister Theophane with little Tommy McEniff

courtesy of the Walsh family

We considered it a great privilege to meet Sister coming across from the convent, and carry her book bag into school; or to spend time in her company while she was on duty at recess. Sr. Grace certainly taught us academics, but she also taught us to sing. Periodically, Sister supervised the entire student body in hymn singing, allowing the other sisters to provide religious instruction to children from the public school.

Her support and guidance did not end with being my teacher in 3rd and 4th grade. Sr. Grace welcomed me into her second grade classroom to observe when I was completing my undergraduate degree at New Paltz. This opportunity helped me to complete course requirements and develop my skills as a teacher.

Sister once paid me an extravagant compliment: “She can do anything she wants to do!” I heard her tell my mother. These words have been a powerful touchstone for me in difficult or discouraging situations. Now, I would like to return the compliment: Some of the most important things I have done were inspired by Sr. Grace. I hear her in my teaching and in the hymns I sing. She is part of that inner dialogue that defines me as a person, and that has shaped me for service in this world.

I have come to know that teaching, more than anything else, is about relationships. These relationships may last only a short time for a teacher. But they last a lifetime for the child who lives in us all. As a teacher, I try very hard to remember this, and I am grateful for the relationship I had with Sr. Grace, a warm and generous person, who has meant so much to me.

Nancy L. Nowak (Thompson)
nowax@bellsouth.net

Nancy earned a B.S. from SUNY New Paltz in Education and English, an M.S. from Lesley College in Human Service Management, and an M.S. in Elementary Education from The University of New Haven. She is a National Board certified teacher, and has been employed by the Palm Beach County School Board for over 14 years. She is a niece of Amenia's much loved teacher, Joan Murphy.