Spirit of ’47 — A Saint Mary’s Woman Remembered

She did the New York Times crossword puzzle in pen, and she watched Jeopardy every night. She was a Cleveland sports fan, and she loved a bright red lipstick even with nowhere to go. She was hard to keep on the phone for very long, and she never embraced email or smartphones, but she loved a written letter, and she would talk with us all night around her kitchen table when we visited. Lenore Sroub Bracken ’47 passed away peacefully on January 6, 2023, at the age of 97 years. She was the devoted wife of Paul; the loving mother of my dear mom, my aunt, and my uncle; the grandmother of nine; and the great-grandmother of 14.

Grandma would spend hours upon hours knitting delicate, soft baby blankets and sweaters that she donated to local charities serving at-risk expectant mothers. She took Communion to homebound parishioners, and she attended Mass every Sunday. Grandma enjoyed a good happy hour when we visited, and she made a mean Old Fashioned. Her memory was wicked sharp until the very end, and she loved telling stories about her family and friends from long before my time. Grandma read the newspaper every day, so she was always well-versed on current events and enjoyed talking about the latest news. She loved to travel, and she was proud of her Czech heritage. Year after year, she prepared a delicious, homemade Thanksgiving feast for 20 people from her tiny galley kitchen.

I remember talking to Grandma about my college options during the winter of my high school senior year. I was not particularly excited about any of them. “What about Saint Mary’s?” she asked. I hadn’t given it much thought before, even though she often talked about her time there.   Her roommate Kathy became a lifelong friend, and she met my grandpa on a blind date at the University of Notre Dame. She was a student when Sister Madeleva Wolff, C.S.C. was president of the school, and she recalled seeing her often on campus. Grandma told me how proud she was of her degree, especially since she attended college at a time when it was not common for women to do so. My grandpa’s service with the Marines during WWII interrupted his schooling for four years. He graduated in 1948 and my grandma graduated in 1947, but he was actually several years older. She returned to campus during his last year to attend the Notre Dame senior prom with him, and they married several months later. They were a true love match, and everyone knew it.

I graduated from Saint Mary’s in 2001, and my younger sisters Sarah and Megan are also proud Belles. At Megan’s graduation in 2007, my parents dedicated a bench on the east side of Lake Marian to the family’s four SMC alumnae. My sisters, my grandma, and I sat there together that day and smiled in wonder at our shared experiences spanning decades at such an incredible institution. We know Grandpa was there with us in spirit. 

Whenever we were together, Grandma proudly wore the pendant necklace she received from Saint Mary’s upon her graduation. She told us that when she was a student, Saint Mary’s did not offer the unique ring that is so well known among alumnae and students today. Instead, each student received an intricately designed gold French cross pendant inscribed on the front with In Hoc Signo Vinces, Latin for “In this sign, you will conquer.” On the back was her name, her class year, and “Saint Mary’s College” engraved in a flowing cursive font. It is a grand statement piece with so much meaning.

Grandma struggled with different health issues as she reached her mid-90s. She had many ups and downs, but she was remarkably resilient through it all. During one of her hospital stays, I asked my group of Saint Mary’s friends if they would keep her in mind. Of course, they all responded right away with encouragement and care. I told Grandma that she had 15 alumnae from the class of 2001 praying for her health and strength. She was so pleased. When she went home from the hospital for the last time to receive hospice care, I asked the same group to pray for her in her final days. Again, the response was immediate. I know that she felt their support. I felt it, too, like a warm blanket wrapped around my shoulders.

My family is lucky to have had my grandma in our lives for as long as we did. It’s a blessing that she remained healthy and vibrant for so many years, and it’s also hard to believe that she is now gone. My grandma embodied the very best of what it means to be a Saint Mary’s woman. She had deep faith, she was curious about the world around her, she was charitable in her actions, she was strong but kind, and she cared deeply for her family and friends. That is her legacy.

I had a Mass said for her at Old St. Patrick’s in Chicago. I wore her Saint Mary’s French cross pendant necklace to church that day for the first time since it was given to me after she died. It hung heavy on my chest and felt like a calming weight on my heart. It smelled like her favorite perfume.