Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P.
Article written by Edgewood alumni recounting the years of service given to the College by Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P., and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. This article appears in the yearbook "Edgewood High School 1881-1981," and includes pictures of Sr. Mildredine and Sr. Mary Lo...
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| Format: | Online |
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| Langue: | eng |
| Publié: |
1981
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| Accès en ligne: | http://digitalcollections.edgewood.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p2612coll5/id/31 |
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edcoai_p2612coll5-31 |
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ojs |
| institution |
Edgewood College |
| collection |
OJS |
| language |
eng |
| format |
Online |
| title |
Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. |
| spellingShingle |
Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. |
| title_short |
Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. |
| title_full |
Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. |
| title_fullStr |
Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. |
| title_sort |
remembering sister m. mildredine birkmeier, o.p. and sister mary lois nichols, o.p. |
| description |
Article written by Edgewood alumni recounting the years of service given to the College by Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P., and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. This article appears in the yearbook "Edgewood High School 1881-1981," and includes pictures of Sr. Mildredine and Sr. Mary Lois.
Sister Mildredine and Sister Lois
Two Sisters who have died are fondly remembered
by Edgewood alumni because of their many years of
service to Edgewood students. Sister Lois Nichols gave
private piano lessons for 26 years and Sister Mildredine
Birkmeier is remembered for her more than 40 years in
the high school cafeteria.
Cynthia Wojick, '75, a former Edgewood piano
student, submitted an article describing her memories of
Sister Lois; Sister Alexius Wagner submitted an article
which recalls Sister Mildredine's work at Edgewood.
Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, OP
Sister Mildredine spent her entire religious life at
Edgewood. After pronouncing her religious vows of
poverty, chastity and obedience in the late 1920s, she
was assigned to Edgewood where she labored until God
took her to Himself on February 15,1970.
The students who attended Edgewood High School
from the late 1920s to 1970 will remember Sister's
delicious meals prepared in the high school cafeteria.
The "Sloppy Joes" she prepared during those years will
never be duplicated this side of heaven. The boys and
the girls who helped with the work in the cafeteria were
Sister's most precious friends and many times they were
the recipients of special treats during the lunch hour or
after school.
Who can forget the home-made pies or the cream
puffs she slaved over? Five hundred of them could be
sold during one noon hour! The athletes, of course,
were Sister Mildredine's pets, and many of them were
able to gain weight simply by spending time in the
cafeteria. She saw to it that they were eating the right
foods—a salad along with the several hot dogs they ate
as part of their lunch.
Many of the alumni remember her as an exceptionally happy
person because she was not only a hardworking Sister but
also a prayerful one. We are confident that Edgewood's
successful first century is partly due to Sister
Mildredine's work during her earthly life, as well as
now in eternity.
My Friendship with Sister Mary Lois, OP
I first met Sister Lois when I was a freshman at
Edgewood. I decided to return to the keyboard after a
two-year absence and was frightened to start all over
with a new teacher who would grade my progress.
"What would this teacher be like?" I wondered. 'How
will she grade me? What kind of music will she give me?
What if I don't like the music or the lessons?" All these
fearful thoughts became unfounded instantly at our first
meeting.
Sister Lois was a kind and gentle person. She looked
at least twenty years younger than her actual age; her
youthful enthusiasm for life and for students concealed
her age from almost everyone. Sister Lois loved such a
variety of composers' styles that she readily
accommodated each student's tastes.
Sister Lois' manner of teaching was patient, untiring,
sympathetic and joyful. The instruction and attention
she gave stemmed from her heart and from her talent as
an accomplished artist. Her music education fell under
the tutelage of such great men and women as Mister
Ganz, Mister Scionti and Madame Boulanger. Sister
Lois was interested in not only the student's ability as a
musician, but also in the student's daily activities as a
Christian adolescent. She believed that a student should
strive for a happy, active life, and that music was an
essential ingredient in achieving this.
She lived a long and full life. No one had greater
drive for perfection, no one had greater appreciation for
nature, and no one had greater loyalty for the Green
Bay Packers. Sister Lois' love for life and music is best
expressed in one of her poems:
MOUND DAISIES
(1915)
Wild daisies in the field
In your tender grace revealed
Queenly grow.
Petals white thou dost unfold
Clustered 'round a heart of gold
Thou'rt lovely so!
May my life when all complete
Pattern thee, wild Marguerite
Name flower sweet.
Intentions pure, like petals white
Heart of gold, my Lord's delight
Make offering mete.
-Sister Mary Lois, OP
(nee Marguerite Louise Nichols) |
| publishDate |
1981 |
| url |
http://digitalcollections.edgewood.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p2612coll5/id/31 |
| _version_ |
1799665346251063296 |
| spelling |
edcoai_p2612coll5-31 Remembering Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P. and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. Article written by Edgewood alumni recounting the years of service given to the College by Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, O.P., and Sister Mary Lois Nichols, O.P. This article appears in the yearbook "Edgewood High School 1881-1981," and includes pictures of Sr. Mildredine and Sr. Mary Lois. Sister Mildredine and Sister Lois Two Sisters who have died are fondly remembered by Edgewood alumni because of their many years of service to Edgewood students. Sister Lois Nichols gave private piano lessons for 26 years and Sister Mildredine Birkmeier is remembered for her more than 40 years in the high school cafeteria. Cynthia Wojick, '75, a former Edgewood piano student, submitted an article describing her memories of Sister Lois; Sister Alexius Wagner submitted an article which recalls Sister Mildredine's work at Edgewood. Sister M. Mildredine Birkmeier, OP Sister Mildredine spent her entire religious life at Edgewood. After pronouncing her religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the late 1920s, she was assigned to Edgewood where she labored until God took her to Himself on February 15,1970. The students who attended Edgewood High School from the late 1920s to 1970 will remember Sister's delicious meals prepared in the high school cafeteria. The "Sloppy Joes" she prepared during those years will never be duplicated this side of heaven. The boys and the girls who helped with the work in the cafeteria were Sister's most precious friends and many times they were the recipients of special treats during the lunch hour or after school. Who can forget the home-made pies or the cream puffs she slaved over? Five hundred of them could be sold during one noon hour! The athletes, of course, were Sister Mildredine's pets, and many of them were able to gain weight simply by spending time in the cafeteria. She saw to it that they were eating the right foods—a salad along with the several hot dogs they ate as part of their lunch. Many of the alumni remember her as an exceptionally happy person because she was not only a hardworking Sister but also a prayerful one. We are confident that Edgewood's successful first century is partly due to Sister Mildredine's work during her earthly life, as well as now in eternity. My Friendship with Sister Mary Lois, OP I first met Sister Lois when I was a freshman at Edgewood. I decided to return to the keyboard after a two-year absence and was frightened to start all over with a new teacher who would grade my progress. "What would this teacher be like?" I wondered. 'How will she grade me? What kind of music will she give me? What if I don't like the music or the lessons?" All these fearful thoughts became unfounded instantly at our first meeting. Sister Lois was a kind and gentle person. She looked at least twenty years younger than her actual age; her youthful enthusiasm for life and for students concealed her age from almost everyone. Sister Lois loved such a variety of composers' styles that she readily accommodated each student's tastes. Sister Lois' manner of teaching was patient, untiring, sympathetic and joyful. The instruction and attention she gave stemmed from her heart and from her talent as an accomplished artist. Her music education fell under the tutelage of such great men and women as Mister Ganz, Mister Scionti and Madame Boulanger. Sister Lois was interested in not only the student's ability as a musician, but also in the student's daily activities as a Christian adolescent. She believed that a student should strive for a happy, active life, and that music was an essential ingredient in achieving this. She lived a long and full life. No one had greater drive for perfection, no one had greater appreciation for nature, and no one had greater loyalty for the Green Bay Packers. Sister Lois' love for life and music is best expressed in one of her poems: MOUND DAISIES (1915) Wild daisies in the field In your tender grace revealed Queenly grow. Petals white thou dost unfold Clustered 'round a heart of gold Thou'rt lovely so! May my life when all complete Pattern thee, wild Marguerite Name flower sweet. Intentions pure, like petals white Heart of gold, my Lord's delight Make offering mete. -Sister Mary Lois, OP (nee Marguerite Louise Nichols) Birkmeier, M. Mildredine; Nichols, Mary Lois; Dominican Sisters. Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary (Sinsinawa, Wis.); Edgewood High School (Madison, Wis.) - Students - Yearbooks 1981 ca. Text, still image image/jpg Remembering eng Edgewood College Archives Madison (inhabited place) This material is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U. S. Code). Permission for use must be cleared through Edgewood College Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.edgewood.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p2612coll5/id/31 |