Submitted by: Dan Rich
South Bend Tribune 3/5/2004
Sister M. Angela Merici, CSC, (Marie Pauline Madigan), 100, was born in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 24, 1903. She was the youngest of four children, and the only girl in the family of Patrick Q. and Theresa Purcell Madigan. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by three brothers, Paul, Leo and Walter Madigan. Sister is survived by her sister-in-law, Helen Madigan; nieces, Maureen Madigan, Illinois, Eileen Bolster, Missouri, Albert Eberts, Illinois; and nephews, Edward Tymick, Illinois, William Bolster, Missouri, Brian and BJ Bolster of New York; and cousins, Sr. Marianna Lynch, OSF, Illinois, and Mrs. Paul Bostick. She will be missed by her family and many friends.
Sister Angela Merici entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in April 1925 and made first vows August 1928. Before entering the Congregation, Sister was a stenographer and bookkeeper. Sister spent a large portion of her community life in the academic world. She taught in schools from Indiana to Virginia, Texas to Michigan, and back to Illinois and Indiana. She taught most all grades including elementary, junior high, high school and classes in college. In 1940 Sister Angela Merici went to Dunbarton College, Washington, D.C., where she was appointed accountant and taught a typing class at the college. Sister was then assigned to Saint Mary's College where she worked as accountant, and assistant in the registrar's office. In 1943 she was assigned to teach at Saint Mary's School, Woodstock, Ill, then to St. John's Hospital, Anderson, Ind., to manage the front office and oversee the accounting work. In 1948 Sister was assigned to Schlarman High School, Danville, Ill., where she was teacher, superior and principal. At Holy Redeemer, Flint, Mich., as principal, she, with the staff and students, worked for and attained accreditation of the school by the State of Michigan. In 1960 Sister was assigned to South Bend, Ind., to serve as superior and principal of Saint Mary's Academy. From 1967 to 1970 she was assigned to St. Joseph's High School as principal of the girls, before St. Joseph's became co-ed, after which she was assistant principal. From 1971 to 1978, Sister assumed the responsibility of financial manager.
Sister resigned the financial-manager position in 1978 and went to work at Renew, Inc., as an accountant. In 1981 she was assigned to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Moreau Region as treasurer and secretary, and continued part-time with Renew. In 1983 she retired to Saint Mary's where she continued her accountant position at La Casa de Amistad until she was assigned to be treasurer at Saint Mary's College Convent. In 1992 Sister moved to Rosary Convent and then to Saint Mary's Convent where she was active in the Ministry of Prayer until her death. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
Wake services Monday, March 8, at 11 a.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
South Bend Tribune 3/5/2004
SOUTH BEND -- When Sister Angela Merici Madigan died in her sleep Thursday, she had been a member of her religious community for more than 75 years. She was born in Oak Park, Ill., and joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1925. The 100-year-old died at St. Mary's Convent, the home for retired sisters.
Sister Angela held various positions over her longevity in the community. She was principal and assistant principal at St. Mary's Academy and St. Joseph's High School in South Bend in the 1960s. She also worked for a period of time at Renew Inc., but most of her retirement was spent in her prayer ministry. Sister wanted to help young people and bring more diversity to the high schools where she taught. In a story about her a year ago in The Tribune, she told a reporter, "There are some valuable lessons to be learned when people are different."
Upon visiting her room, one could see her Bible and prayer books that lay on her nightstand were well-worn with study. She remained a joyous and active part of that community up until recently."There was such an aura of peace in the room today when she died," Sister Rose Edward said. "She was a woman of faith and commitment, and she was proud to be a sister of the Holy Cross. She loved and cared for all people."
The reception and wake for Sister Angela will be at 11 a.m. Monday. The funeral Mass will be at 3:30 p.m. in Church of Loretto on the campus of Saint Mary's College.