(no subject)
Sister Catherine Bernadette Marie Mee is the oldest living Mee.
She is 93, and is the my father's father's sister.
Which if you couldnt follow that one, would make her my Great Aunt.
Sister Catherine is the most educated member of the Mee family.
She studied at Catholic University in Washington, DC.
She got her bachelor's degree in education.
Went on to get her masters in Special Education.
She went further onto achieve her Doctorate.
She wanted to teach Religious Education to Special Needs Children.
She was moved to a parrish in Richmond Hill in Queens, NY.
She started a Special Education program in the Catholic School.
The school opened and closed, babies were born and grew old,
all in her life time.
At 65 she was asked to retire to Mother House in Philadelphia.
Sister Catherine lived for the people in her neighborhood, she lived to god's work, and teach people to be closer to some sort of god each in their own way, to come to know god. Sister made up bags for the people in her neighborhood who couldnt afford to make their own thanksgiving dinner, Sister handed out sandwiches and hot meals to anyone who would knock on her door. Sister gave advice, Sister tutored, Sister networked all through out the Brooklyn Diocese, sitting on the board of Inter Faith Organizations, befriending Jews and Muslims and Hindus, everyone has their own way she said.
You'll find yours she always said to me.
Somehow, while healing her neighborhood, she still found time to keep my entire family in her thoughts and prayers. She would reward me for my good grades, send a card on every birthday. God Love You, I know I do...she would sign everyone.
Sister was supposed to retire when she was 65, which according my to calculations was before I was even born. She drove...well into her 80's when she got in an accident and they took her car away. Sister couldnt stop, she lived for the people she loved, and her heart loved everyone she saw for exactly who they were. 3 years ago, the diocese and the mother house insisted it was time. Sister had to leave the parrish. There were articles in Newsletters, there were petitions, money was raised to have Sister cared for 24/7, but the Mother House insisted this is what Sister signed up for.
So they took her...
They took her away from us.
The one woman who was always there.
The one woman who exhausted herself trying to bring us together.
The one woman who I see the most of myself in, the stubborn streak, the temper, the cold stare.
The part of my heart that skips while Im on line for communion at Mass is my direct link to Sister Catherine.
Sister, was placed in Hospice Care this week.
She doesnt want to be a bother to us.
She will not accept calls.
She does not want visitors.
She is angered that we know she is there.
She will not eat, she will not take medicine.
She is so stubborn.
I just want to hold her hand...to touch her one more time and tell her that I have learned so many things important things from her, about life and compassion, and family.
That she has made a life out of bringing good to other people, and shedding light where there is none.
That I have been an ungrateful little child for most of my life, but I love her in ways I cant put to words and that everything good that has happened to me is because of something she prayed for.