Sister M. Helen Patrice, CSC
(May 20, 1907- August 21, 2010)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving for this Sister of the Holy Cross who died on August 21, 2010 in Saint Mary's Convent.
Word has been received of the death of Sister Helen Patrice (Whelan) who died early Saturday morning at 12:25 a.m., August 21, 2010, in Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana. Sister Mary Pius (Schreiner), her good friend of many years, was with her.
At age 103 most people would be rather proud to have reached such a remarkable age but this is not true of Sister Helen Patrice. She was always “anxious to go home to God.”
After more than 50 years as a teacher and sometimes administrator in various elementary schools across the nation, sister retired as a classroom teacher to come to Saint Mary’s. During most of her teaching years in the elementary schools she spent summers at Camp Merryelande in the loblolly pines of Southern Maryland. Especially during the war years, when both parents in a family worked or the father was in the service and the mother in the work force, the camp was a welcome and safe place for them to send their daughters for summer vacation where they were well supervised by Sister Helen Patrice. Some of these campers later entered the Congregation. Even though more than 50 plus years have gone by, some of her former campers kept in touch with Sister.
Once Sister Helen Patrice arrived at Saint Mary’s at age 77, she entered a new phase of her ministry of service. Always aware of her use of time, she worked out her own schedule for the hours in the stamp room and helping in the laundry. Sister Mary Pius, tells of how she would come to spend a week of her vacation with Sister Helen Patrice but often found that “sister was so busy” finding time for a visit was a challenge.
She approached every task with an energy that belied her small stature. For 20 years she faithfully worked in the laundry, giving her mornings and several hours each afternoon. In 1974 Tom Bright came to work in the laundry and remembers sister well. “She was quiet but when she wanted you to know something, she would tell you right out.” He recalled times when he would get a report that sister was near death but on the next Monday morning she would be back at folding table in the laundry. She was wiry. Tom quotes her as saying, “God took everyone but me.” She continued her work there even after her eyesight began to fail and it was necessary for Tom to go for her each day and then take her back to the convent, such was her pugnacity.
Prayer was an integral part of her life, she made all of her activities an offering to the Lord. The rosary was her special daily devotion and she loved St. Patrick after whom her father was named. She is finally at home with the God whom she served loyally as a religious for over 85 years. Her reward will be great.
Funeral arrangements for Sister are follows: Reception of the body at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24, with the Mass of Resurrection following at 10:30 a.m. the same day. These ceremonies will take place in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. May Sister Helen Patrice rest in peace.
May she rest in peace.