Sister Jean Clare Little, CSC
(January 3, 1928 - November 15, 2009)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving for this Sister of the Holy Cross who died on November 15, 2009 in Saint Mary's Convent.
Sister Jean Clare was a very goal-oriented person. She continually challenged herself and inspired others to follow her example. Once she recognized a need she began planning strategies to meet that need as she saw it. She unabashedly enlisted the support of anyone who could help her further her cause.
For 20 years she taught in the elementary schools of the West, and through this experience became sensitive to the fact that many of the students she taught had some element of learning disability which inhibited their ability to progress educationally. While teaching in Las Vegas, Nevada, she turned her attention to this problem by furthering her own education in this area and starting a special program for these students. This after-school and summer school program was a success because of Sister Jean Clare’s undaunted efforts in enlisting the help of parents and teachers. It was eventually wedded to the state-recognized alternative school, New Horizons Center for Learning, that continues today to meet the needs of children who learn differently.
Sister Jean Clare had many health issues but after this successful venture, zeal for this cause drove her to push herself beyond her physical limitations. She spent the next 30 years designing programs for learning disabled students and working diligently to bring these programs to every area where she served.
These same health issues finally forced her to return to Saint Mary’s in 2001, where she devoted her time sailing from room to room in her motorized chair, being a good listener and offering cheerful advice until these same infirmities set final limits on her activities.
Sister Jean Clare stayed young-at-heart and enthusiastic. Her love of music carried her through difficult times and buoyed her spirits. She loved to dance and did so even in her motorized chair whenever the opportunity arose. This same joyous spirit danced her into eternity where she can now dance before the Lord.
Funeral arrangement for Sister Jean Clare are as follows: Reception of the body at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, with the Mass of Resurrection and eulogy at 1:30 p.m. on the same day. All of these ceremonies will take place in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. May Sister rest in peace.