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**From Devra (Wylie) Jensen (Class of 1982):
"I was a member of the graduating class of 1982. I remember rumors that
the school might close but thought it stayed open one more year after I left. My favorite teacher was Sister
Agatha. She was also my 8th grade teacher at St. Benedict's. The year I graduated and went to Mother
of Sorrows, she followed and taught there too."
**From Lisa Jackubowski (Class of 1983):
"I was in the last graduating class. There were 60 of us in the class, 1983 was the last year the school
was opened."
**From Marcia (Schicht) Maurer (Class
of 1961):
"I graduated from MSHS in 1961. I transferred there in 1959 following the closure of St. Louis
Academy located in Roseland IL, which closed d/t it being a fire hazard following the inspection of all schools that was mandated
after the Holy Angels Grammar School fire in which many children and teachers perished. I started MSHS as a junior.
Some of my teachers were Mr. Cummings who used to attend St. Michael’s parish in Orland Park
so I assume he lived there. Mrs. Michalski who taught English, Ms. Caputo who taught science.
The Principal was a sister with an Italian name. Sorry can’t remember it! We wore a uniform that was a periwinkle
blue suit with a white blouse. Of course we all rolled up our skirts as soon as school let out so that they would be
short which was the style then! There were two curriculums at the time, a college prep and a non-college prep which
consisted of learning secretarial skills or homemaking skills. The honor society was very active
as was student government. We all thought it was a pretty tough school but after being at St. Louis Academy we thought
it was heaven b/c it was so beautiful to us. When you were a junior you were allowed to drive to school if you had a
car. Dances were typically held in the School cafeteria which we decorated to the nines. Most commonly, the boys
from Mendel High School were invited and in fact many MSHS girls had boyfriends form Mendel. My husband went to Mendel and dated a classmate
of mine, but of course, I did not know then that he was to be my future husband!"
"I WAS A BOARDER AT MOTHER OF SORROWS FROM GRADE 3 1954 TO GRADE 5 1957. I STILL HAVE
FOND MEMORIES OF MY STAY AT THE SCHOOL. I STILL REMEMBER MY BEST FRIEND DONNA
MATTEONNI AND HER SISTER JULIA. I CAN STILL PICTURE THE COMMON ROOMS THE BOYS COMMON ROOMS (WE WEERE
ALL ALLOWED TO GO THO THIER DAY ROOM TO WATCH TV ON OCCASSION),THE DINING AREA,THE STAIRWAYS LEADING
TO THE UPSTAIRS, MOTHER SUPERIORS OFFICE WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR, I
THINK THE CLASSROOMS WERE ON THAT FLOOR ALSO,OUR BEDROOMS WERE ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND WERE ALSO CONNECTED TO ANOTHER BUILDING
WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER LARGE DORM ROOM. THERE WAS AN ATTIC STORAGE AREA THAT WAS FULL OF FURNITURE, THAT WAS ALSO WHERE OUR
LOCKERS WITH EXTRA CLOTHING WAS KEPT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE PICTURES OR TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE SCHOOL."
**From Cheryl L.
S. Sarna, M. A., J. D. (Class of 1967):
"I attended Mother of Sorrows High School as a student from 1963-1967 and returned there as a teacher in the Fall of 1971 (after
graduation from Loyola University). I taught upper level English courses, many that I developed,
and some of which were courses in Shakespearean Drama, Greek &
Roman Drama, Novels, World Literature, English Literature, American Literature, and Creative Writing.
I taught until 1982 (when I graduated from Loyola Law
School and began the practice of law). During the 11 years I was there, I was a teacher
and at different times, Senior Class Moderator, Dean of Discipline; a member of the Advisory Board, and Head of the Attendance Committee; etc.
The nuns, Sisters of the Servants
of Mary, were a dedicated, hard-working, loving group who genuinely cared for the students. It was
a great place to work and I enjoyed my time there tremendously. I would like to think I helped some students
with their educational endeavors.
It was very sad to see that era come to an end. We need
more schools like MOS H. S., where learning is stressed, and treating students as part of a family is important.
My love to all former faculty, administration and students--you
are all terrific!"
**From Diane C. Bradford:
My aunt was Sister Mary Felicita, the one and only principal Mother of Sorrows High School ever had. Family stories tell us that Sister Felicita and another nun
planned the initial layout of the high school, saying “We can put the chapel here, the study
hall here, etc.” Sister Felicita was a dynamic and hardworking leader, and an excellent cook.
She once was known as the “Julia Child of the Convent.” Standing
all of 4’9” tall, she was a bundle of energy, as were all the nuns. They were all very hardworking and dedicated
to educating young women. My Mom, who was a non-Catholic and an English war bride, would marvel at the “extras”
that went into the nuns’ teaching, such as extra decorating touches in the classrooms you didn’t find in public
schools.
I remember visiting Sister Felicita and Sister Assuntina (another aunt and the Art
and History Teacher) from the time I was a little girl. I then attended Mother of Sorrows High School from 1958 to 1962 and
our graduating class was just over 100 girls. The whole school at that time
was about 400 students. I loved school from a very young age and the education I received at Mother of Sorrows was a very
good foundation for my later career. I went on to Roosevelt University and DePaul University. I have warm fond memories of
my classmates and high school days there.
I understand the alternative school has now or will soon close and the property sold to a developer for senior housing.
The remaining nuns may have gone to St. George’s in Tinley Park. The
last I knew, Sister Gabriele was still there, little Sister
Agnes passed away, Sisters Felicita and Assuntina have passed away as well.
The little congregation did not have many nuns left. It is a shame because they did such good work!"
**From Penelope (Penny) A. Eller (Class of 1968):.
"Here are the snippets of things I remember:
Does anyone remember Billy the dwarf janitor? He was so creepy he would stand under the stairwells trying to look
up our skirts.
Speaking of uniforms, there's nothing better than a wool skirt and jacket, and white blouse in the summer.
We always celebrated St. Joseph's Day, March 19, not St. Patrick's Day because the order of nuns were Italian.
I played the Baritone B flat in the band with Sister Christina.
Little Sister Agnes and tall and mean St. Concetta,who left the order after we graduated. I think
Sister Christina also left and one other nun that year.
Sister Philip ran the library.
The little nuns who cooked for the cafeteria and they made the best pizza I ever tasted.
Decorating for all the dances.
Having the Mendel boys as our brother school. Taking the CTA and Bluebird buses to school, no special buses for us.
Father/Daughter dances.
I remember Mr. Malkas, the first male teacher, who taught History, and I do remember all the girls had crushes on Mr.
Dzik, I think he taught English.
Mrs. Buck was one of the gym teachers, I was made the roving center, playing only girls rules on the
court. And, the showers never seemed to work.
One thing I must disagree with is Diane Bradford's comment that Sister Felicity was the 'one and
only principal' for Mother of Sorrows HS. Sister Mary Marguerite was the principal while I was in school.
At the time my best friends were Chesterine Gerez (deceased), Debbie Brown, and Kathy
Shimkus.
I wasn't the only Penelope in our class there was also Penelope Thusing.
The last memory is very sad, the summer after we graduated Karen Kuschell was killed in an automobile
accident coming back from Ill. State." |
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