Sisterhood of Service

"Kristi Morris, Class of 2000. One of the first classmates I met when I moved into 2T as a sophomore during my transfer year. Talk about a phenom! She truly loved people in Christ's image and she was a friend to all. Tragically, Kristi was taken from us during spring break of our senior year. But the number of people she inspired during her brief time on earth and all of the kindness that she left behind is greater than many people achieve in a much longer lifetime.” 

- Ellen Anderson Crittenden ’00

“I was a freshman taking German 101. I was struggling, and a senior who was taking it for fun (her 3rd or 4th language) approached me on the way out of class and offered to work with me. She spent many hours of her time helping me. Without her help, I would not have earned credit for the course.”

- Kathleen Mikula Desmond ’85

“Class of ‘93 BFA here. The late, great, forever remembered Billy Ray Sandusky. He changed my thought process in art making; encouraged me to look within rather than outward...how life, world events, the actions of friends and family affected me personally. My art changed from that point. His teaching led to me being the high school art teacher I am today. Additionally, Billy Ray taught me the art of bookmaking which I still use today to make my own sketchbooks and, when not living in COVID-world, teach my own students to make theirs. God bless and God rest with the Great Billy Ray Sandusky.”

- Colleen Danaher Doyle ’93

“Sister Mary Louise Full ’65 and Sister Maureen Grady have been by my side throughout so many important moments from college onward. Specifically, I remember crying to Sister Mary Louise my freshman year about struggling to make friends and roommate stress. She sat and talked with me for hours telling me everything was okay and SMC was where I was meant to be. When I took my huge board exam for medical school they would email me telling me they were praying for me to do well on my test. I graduated from SMC five years ago and I still talk with them frequently. I joined friends with sisters, worried because I wasn't even Catholic, but am so glad I did because I've made lifelong friends with my two favorite nuns.”

- Kylie Jungles ’16

"Regina Wilson from Campus Ministry. My uncle passed away unexpectedly junior year and she happened to pass me as I was wandering back to my dorm room after finding out. She was in a rush back to Regina after a Sunday service and stopped to talk with me and gave me a hug and such kind words. I will never forget her taking the time to talk with me!”

- Jackie Schramm ’17

“My French professor Julie Storme called my parents to encourage them to let me study in France. I told her my parents were really watching money & I didn’t think it would work—after all I could only have one long distance call a month to AZ as a freshman. It worked. I got to go. I also loved when professors had us over for meals. I was so far from home & never lived off campus so being at a house was so great.”

- Sharon Zint Marts ’92

“While a student at SMC, I had an internship with the WSBT Radio Group. One snowy morning, I was trying to exhume my little 1994 Saturn out of a major snow drift so I could get to work in downtown South Bend. Professors Linda Cooper Berdayes and Vicente Berdayes happened to be walking by and helped dig me out! I was grateful then and remain forever touched by that thoughtful act of kindness.”

- Katie Rzepka Staples ’02

“The professors at SMC were so special and kind. Two immediately come to mind: Dr. Anthony Black and Dr. Joseph M. Incandela. Dr. Black annually hosted the history majors at his home and BBQ’d for us and we spent the evening with him and his wife. A slice of “home” for me as I was a student far from home. Joe always had time to talk with his students. He encouraged us to question and think. The comments he made on papers were specific and lengthy. Must have taken him forever to grade. When my daughter enrolled at SMC he let me know I could count on him if we needed anything. (She was far from home).”

- Jen Retoskie Keller ’90

“As an international TA at SMC, Adriana Petty ’01 used to send me random gifts that would get me through stressful times and put a smile on my face. Will forever remember that”

- Majda Layek

“Love this. I’m forever grateful for the encouragement of professor Anne Loux. She was visiting Italy the same time I was a student in the SMC Rome Program. I was ambivalent about the major I was pursuing, and she gave me the pep talk needed to switch to English writing. That ultimately led me to a fulfilling career in PR for the past 15+ years and counting. #ringsdoingthings”

- Annie Basinski Dubsky ’04

“Professor (Pat) Pierce. I was walking on the Avenue after an injury the day before cheerleading tryouts. And he stopped, rolled down his window and asked if I was all right. It was a tough injury and I couldn’t try out. He was so kind.”

- Christy Smith Moran ’85

“My senior year, I had NO idea what I was going to do after graduation. My professor, Dr. Strahn, recommended me for an internship with a local south bend company, in Human Resources. I took the job, and 30 years later, am still in HR. I have her to thank for seeing something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. I have tried to track her down over the years, to thank her. But I’ve never been able to find her! She taught in the business department in 1990-1991.”

- Molly Bridges Williams ’91

“When I was a freshman, living in McCandless, I didn’t have a car. There was a bulletin board in the main entry where upperclassmen (or people with transportation!) posted notes about where they were driving to for the holidays, and offered rides. Due to the kindness of others I didn’t even know, I was able to make it home for the holidays when I may not have been able to otherwise. Today, students probably use Uber, but back then, this was super helpful and appreciated!”

- Kelly Jennings Mahoney ’98

"At the close of my freshman year, I had spoken to one of my Holy Cross 3T pals, Kathy (Reed) Ubert ’01, about potentially not returning to SMC for the second year. My birthday fell shortly after this conversation, and in a birthday card, Kathy mentioned her hope that I could find something strong enough to keep me at Saint Mary’s because she would miss me very much. Along with my first steps at getting involved, her words were that “something strong enough” that urged me to return to Saint Mary’s, and those remaining years brought enlightenment, leadership opportunities, a career path, and meaningful friendships that have transcended time and distance. Twenty two years later, I still keep my friend Kathy’s card tucked away somewhere safe as a reminder of the power of some kind words.”

- Rachele Rodarte Raloff ’01

“The kindness of Saint Mary's goes beyond our student days! About four years after I graduated, I left NYC and returned to South Bend with my two very young babies and my husband, a newly minted grad student. I was in that chaotic season of no sleep, little money, counting little joys and mostly, no sleep. One day I had to face the music of our abysmally bare cupboards, and geared up in the middle of South Bend winter for a big-haul grocery trip. After a long visit of backtracking for forgotten items, returning extra items grabbed by the sneaky toddler, and doling out a whole box of animal crackers, we finally approached the checkout well past nap time. My order was rung up and when I pulled out my credit card, I was gently reminded that only cash was accepted at this store. I flew into a panic, trying to problem solve and muster the gumption to ask the store to hold my cart, pack babies back into car seats, take out cash, carry them back into the store....I was SO frazzled and embarrassed and frustrated. Suddenly, an ANGEL from the next lane over, walked toward us, glanced at my total and handed over (an incredibly generous amount of) cash. Before I knew what had happened and overcame my shock, she gave me the most understanding and kind smile and then was gone—POOF! Flabbergasted, I got the kids and groceries loaded into the car and drove home, haunted by the familiarity of that smile. Very late that evening it hit me—I DID know that smile! It was Angela Bryant, a counselor who had helped me at the SMC Counseling Center during my sophomore year, nearly seven years before. She recognized me in the middle of a grocery store (now accompanied by two howling babies and several extra pounds), saw the need, rescued me swiftly and silently so that I didn't even have the chance to feel embarrassed in front of her, and fed our family for two weeks. Nothing has made me feel more sure that SMC truly is a sisterhood of women lifting up other women through service and generosity and grace, long-past our time as students.  (Angela, if you see this—thank you, again, for blessing this SMC Chick when I was so overwhelmed and in the thick of new motherhood. Your kindness has propelled me through years of frazzled moments, remembering that God sends help in the most unexpected ways!)”

- Alexandra MacPherson Wright ’08

“My junior year, my dad passed away suddenly from a heart attack. My mom called and I left campus with my two best friends. They drove me the hour and half back to Elmhurst, a western suburb of Chicago. They let me yell and scream and cry the whole ride home. My dad passed that night. My accounting professor, Claude Renshaw, called to check on me. He, my volleyball coach, Julie Schroeder-Biek ’88, the current AD), and some teammates drove to Elmhurst for the funeral. My friends from SMC and others I only knew from class sent me cards. I kept every single card I received. This was the hardest time of my life, even now 28 years later, and I still remember all the kindness from my teachers, classmates, and friends. This is why SMC is my second home.”

- Michelle Moreis ’94