IHM: IHM Sisters Then and Now

Who We Are

IHM Sisters - Then and Now
September 2010

Sister Mary (Caritas) Naughton was born in Detroit, Mich., in 1925 and went to school at St. Gregory the Great. She had one brother, John (Jack), and a sister Kathleen. Both parents, John (Jack) Naughton and Katie Murphy, grew up in Ireland and came to the United States as adults.

Her father made his living building houses duing the auto industry boom in Detroit. Later he was hired by the University of Detroit in their maintenance department. The family never owned a car and walked everywhere they went -- to school, church, shopping and visiting friends.

Sister Mary's first-grade teacher, Sister Alfred Marie, influenced her to become a nun. This teacher had 90 students in the morning class and 90 in the afternoon. She was creative in her teaching methods and often sang the lessons to the children. Because of this, Sister Mary loved going to school every day and knew one day she would become a nun and a teacher.

Having decided to become a Mary Naughton, IHM sister in the first grade, she kept it a secret until it was finally time to tell her family. Her mother was delighted she wanted to be an IHM, and confided that she always wanted Mary to become a sister but wanted the decision to be hers alone.

Mary came to Monroe in 1943 and became an IHM Sister. She began her teaching career in 1946, and taught in schools in Detroit, Marine City, Battle Creek, Warren, Roseville and St. Clair Shores. She then became a librarian at schools in Centerline, Gaylord, Redford, Detroit, and at Visitation in Monroe and at the Motherhouse.

Sister Mary always enjoyed sewing and mending the sisters' clothing. Nowadays she also likes to read, but doesn't care much for television. She admits, however, that she enjoys watching classic movies when she gets the chance.

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September 2010 - Mary (Caritas) Naughton, IHM
August 2010 - Suzanne (James Ann) Molloy, IHM
July 2010 - Jean (Eymarda) Laubacher, IHM
June 2010 - Jane Mary Howard, IHM
May 2010 - Frances Gabrielle Hess, IHM
April 2010 - Gloria (Roberta Marie) Glinski, IHM
March 2010 - Norma (Emerentia) Groth, IHM
February 2010 - June (Marie Rene) Denne, IHM
January 2010 - Ann Christine Charron, IHM

December 2009 - Marie Andre Walsh, IHM
November 2009 - Ann Isabelle Tefend, IHM
October 2009 - Marion Shea, IHM
September 2009 - Frances Ryan, IHM
August 2009 - Genevieve (William Joseph) Petrak, IHM
July 2009 - Mary Therese (Raphael Marie) O'Donnell, IHM
June 2009 - Agnes Loiuse Murray, IHM
May 2009 - Dolora Neumaier, IHM
April 2009- Sister John Louise Leahy, IHM
March 2009 - Sister Marie (Raynora) Hopkins, IHM
February 2009 - Sister Electa (Mary Simon) Herringer, IHM
January 2009 - Sister Rose Graham

December 2008 - Sister Ruth (Helen Ann) Glaser, IHM
November 2008 - Sister Alice (Marie Kyran) Flanagan, IHM
October 2008 - Sister Geraldine (Rose Philip) Demech, IHM
September 2008 - Sister Rosemary (Leona) Creteau, IHM
August 2008 - Sister Cecilia (Hermes) Campbell, IHM