Name: Sister Margaret Ann Henige, IHM                          Year: 1972
School: Hall of Divine Child (Monroe, Mich.)      
Memory: Words will and can never explain what you and the sisters and staff at the Hall of the Divine Child have done. Since 1913-1980, it has been a mother-father-teacher in respect for God, love, honor and country and so much more to so many young boys from all types of life. I love you all.
Submitted by: Cadet Greg Walden, Class of 1972

Name: Sister Thomas Rita (Mary Catherine) Fanning, IHM    Year: 1954
School: Holy Redeemer (Detroit)      
Memory: I was in second grade at Holy Redeemer. My teacher was Sister Thomas Rita. She helped me at a time when a little guy like me needed special attention for a lot of reasons. I just love her for all that she did.
Submitted by: Anthony Casillas
Note: Sister Thomas Rita left the congregation in 1970.

Name: Sister Eileen (Agnesine) Shaw, IHM, Sister Mary Anne (David Michael) Bilgen, IHM 
     and Sister Carola (Frances Jane) Keffler, IHM                 Year: 1981
School: Holy Name (Birminghan, Mich.)      
Memory: I remember when Sister Eileen got sick. We prayed for her every day and then we found out that she got worse and died. It was a very sad day. I was in the sixth grade when this happened. I remember Sister Mary Anne, also. She was a fair principal and went to Marian High School after she left Holy Name. Sister Carola Keffler was still the secretary when I visited the school in 1990, which was her last year. I had just returned from the seminary in Pennsylvania. These sisters were great assets to the school.
Submitted by: Michael Petroni
Note: Sister Eileen Shaw died May 21, 1979. Sister Mary Anne died May 26, 1993. Sister Carola Keffler is retired and lives at the Motherhouse.

Name: Audrey (Vinciana) Bushell, IHM                             Year: 1974
School: St. Mary of Redford (Detroit)      
Memory: I remember Sister Audrey, our art teacher at St. Mary's of Redford. She was so patient with me as I used pastels to draw a Fragonard, "A Young Girl Reading," that took me months to finish. Sister said, "Well, you're not very prolific, but at least you're almost done." She helped me out of more scrapes as I worked on that drawing, both at school and home. I will always consider her one of my best art mentors because she was so encouraging. Thanks, Sister Audrey!
Submitted by: Susan Phillips

Name: Sister Marie Sylvia (Leona Mary Sullivan), IHM         Year: 1967
School: Gesu Elementary (Detroit)      
Memory: Sister Marie Sylvia was my second (and fourth) grade teacher at Gesu Elementary School. I remember has as one of the most influential teachers of the MANY years I have spent in school. She was an excellent teacher, but was also a warm, caring woman one could turn to with problems. I recall a fellow student and I had a long talk with her about our "problem" of talking in class. She compassionately listened to us and helped us develop a plan to solve our "problem." I believe her warmth and ability to listen contributed to my selecting a career as a professional listener and problem solver - a clinical psychologist. Sister Marie Sylvia was one of the best!
Submitted by: Aldona Mikaila Valivonis
Note: Sister Marie Sylvia died July 1994.

Name: Sister Florentia McInerney, IHM, Sister Augustine (Patricia O'Toole), IHM
School: St. Thomas the Apostle (Ann Arbor, Mich.)              Year: 1972
Memory: I fondly remember Sister Florentia, who taught me Latin, and Sister Augustine (Patricia O'Toole) who taught me freshman religion. To this day I remember the anagram that Sister Augustine used for the first five books of the Old Testament: GEL Notre Dame (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).
Submitted by: Brian Boyce

Name: Sisters Annette, Mary Ives, Maria Pacis, Norita
School: St. John (Benton Harbor, Mich.)
Memory: Thank you to all the wonderful sisters who taught me at St. John's in Benton Harbor, MI, in the 1950s. Thank you to all who taught me at Marygroce College in the 1960s, including, but not limited to Sister Mary Emil, Sister janice Marie, Sister Amata. Educated, articulate, caring women all. I owe so much of my lifelong love of learning and clear thinking to them and their efforts.
Submitted by: Patrice Gaunder Heeran

Name: Sister Marciana (Dorothy Joyce), IHM
School: St. John (Benton Harbor, Mich.)    
Memory: I see Sister Marciana celebrated a 75-year Jubilee last year. It brings delight to me to learn that. I still remember the values of respecting myself and others as well as dedication to my work that she taught me at St. John in the late 1950s. Hopefully, I have led a life that would make her proud. Please pass along my best wishes to her.
Submitted by: Larry Steinborn

Name: Sister Alice Clare, IHM and Sister Baptista, IHM                 Year: 1958
School: St. Gregory (Detroit)                            
Memory: Sister Alice Clare and Sister Baptista were my aunts on my grandmother's side of the family. They were sisters. Sr. Alice (Evelyn White) was the principal of St. Gregory's in the 1950s. I don't recall Sister Baptista's first name. I believe she died in 1953. A classmate called Sister Alice Clare "fat" once and my brother Michael punched him and he was brought before Sister Alice Clare for punishment. She said, "You know Michael, I AM a little oversized." We visited the IHM Motherhouse every summer to see both the sisters.
Submitted by: Robert "Chuck" Hastings
Note: Sister Alice Clare (Evelyn White) died in 1961. Sister Baptista (Catherine Angela White) died in 1953.

Name: None in particular                                                       Year: 1957
School: St. Mary (Wayne, Mich.)                           
Memory: I was one of the eighth grade girls who had class in the house behind the school. I remember the day we tried on our "sweet little Alice blue gowns" in the closet on the second floor for the dance recital. (Remember Mrs. Hoyt?) I'd love to hear from any classmates of the class of 1957. Send them to: pglaab@ihmsisters.org.
Submitted by: Sister Pat Glaab, IHM

Name: Sister Peter Faber (Sister Marilyn Russ, IHM)                    Year: 1969
School: Holy Redeemer (Detroit)                            
Memory: Sister Peter Faber was the inspiration for my professional life. I had Sister in my junior year for Algebra II/Trigonometry. Prior to having Sister, I lacked the confidence I needed. I earned my bachelor's degree from U of D in 1973 with a mathematics major! I was a math teacher for many years and eventually I became a principal and finally a director of education services at the county level. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Sister Peter Faber. God Bless her and keep her.
Submitted by: Ilene Soroka MacDonald

Name: Sister Helen (Christella) Peatee, IHM                                Year: 1963
School: Academia de Santa Teresita (Santurce, PR)    
Memory - Sister Christella was our senior homeroom advisor. We, the Class of 1963, were her last senior class. She was a great teacher. Very warm and patient with her students. I have always treasured my memories of our dear Sister Christella. God Bless her always.
Submitted by: June Mary Jimenez

Name: Sister Judy Dutka, IHM                                              Year: 1969
School: SS Peter and Paul (Ionia, Mich.)    
Memory - I never had the privilege of having Sister Judy Dutka as a teacher in the formal school setting as I was already out of school when she came to Ionia for her first assignment as an IHM nun at SS. Peter & Paul. She taught my younger sister, brother and (future) sister-in-law and apparently she had a deep impact on them. She returned to Ionia often after she left to teach in the Detroit area and, since she stayed with either my sister or my brother and sister-in-law, her visits usually involved a big family gathering - 6 of us, our parents, and later on, our spouses and children - and there was always great conversation, LOTS of laughter, and often beautiful music. We also enjoyed visiting her in Detroit and attending Tiger baseball games with her.  Somehow she became a different kind of "teacher" for me. She taught me about the kind of person I wanted to be and am still struggling to become - kind, compassionate, sincere, strong, joyful, faithful...and it was very evident how much she loved "her kids." She was so very proud of all their accomplishments and she often told us how much she admired them for overcoming so much adversity in their lives. I think she felt that she received as much "education" from them as they received from her. She became part of our family, sang at several family weddings (I even got to sing with her a couple of times), and she planned the liturgy and sang at both my parents' funerals.  Last November, my four sisters and I made a trip to Detroit for an Art Fair and took the opportunity to stop and visit her at her apartment on Wyoming Avenue.  She was feeling better and was singing with a chorus again - we were so excited to hear that!  We had a delightful visit and had lunch with her at a wonderful deli nearby.  As usual, there was LOTS of laughter, especially when I locked my keys in the car and she had to call AAA to get someone to unlock it for us!  I will miss her joy, her love of life.

Name: Sister Teresita and Sister Philomena
School: Colegio de la Merced (Cayey, PR)     Year: 1970
Memory: My little sister Melba had broken her femur and could not attend school for a while. I can still see Sister Teresita and Sister Philomena in their white habits coming to give her lessons at home. These women were the best role models I had growing up poor and from a broken home in Cayey, P.R.  I thank God for each of them and for all the other sisters who ministered to us throughout the years. We would not have done it without you IHMs. You will always have a special place in my heart. 
Submitted by: Shirley L. Shives
Note: Sister Teresita is retired at the Motherhouse. Sister Philomena died in October 1997.

Name: Sister Joan Charnley
School: Marian High School (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)     Year: 1978
Memory: I will always remember Sister Joan for her kind, patient advice and support.
Submitted by: Alice Alvey (Althoff)

Name: Sister Mary Simon (Electa Herringer) 
School: St. Mary (St. Peter Parish) (Mt. Clemens, Mich.)      Year: 1955
Memory: The year was 1945 and I recall Sr. Mary Simon as my 2nd grade teacher. I was a skinny little girl with mousey brown hair combed in braids. Sister had sent the class to the blackboard to do math problems. She said when we were finished to write our name near our work. I did as I was told and sat down. She made known the fact that I had written my name so perfect. I remember I was both very proud and red-faced that she had brought it to the attention of the whole class. I also remember how diligently she prepared us for our First Holy Communion. In 2005, the year of my class's 50th reunion, we had the opportunity to tour the school. Along with a classmate of mine, we walked into our 2nd grade classroom and in unison said "Sr. Mary Simon!"  How could we forget one so devoted to her students. I am sure she does not remember me but I remember her. May God Bless you Sister.
(Note - Sister Electa (Mary Simon) Herringer was featured in our "IHM Sisters Then & Now" for February 2009.)
Submitted by: Janet Mansfield

Name: All Sisters
School: Holy Redeemer (Detroit)            Year: 1958-81
Memory: A big "Thank You" from one of the biggest families at Holy Redeemer-Detroit. Though ma and dad are gone know, they always had the highest respect for you. Thank you!
Submitted by: The Diegels, Detroit, MI

Name: Sister Mary Ellen (Susellen) Glosser, IHM
School: St. Mary Academy (Monroe, Mich.)            Year: 1960  
Memory: It was my freshman year and first year away from home. Even though I liked it there, I would cry myself to sleep every night because I was so homesick. Every night Sister Susellen would get me out of bed and we would go to the snack room for a talk. She was very consoling, but it didn't seem to help me. One night she came up with just the right words, "My sweet child, it is OK for you to be homesick. You are one of the few girls here that has a home good enough to be homesick for." Well, that did it for me. I finished high school at Marian. Those words from Sister Susellen have gotten me through many "homesick" times.
Submitted: Mary Anne (McHugh) Stiverson 

Name: Sister Rose Ange Leddy, IHM
School: Christ the King (Detroit)            Year: 1989  
Memory: I have been looking for Sister Rose Ange since my senior year at St. Agatha. She was my math teacher at CK, and also homeroom and math at St. Agatha. She was the hardest, pushiest math teacher ever. But she was the best and she never let me give up. She left very suddenly before our graduation. I was very sad. Sister Rose Ange, I love you and I thank you for pushing me. My time at CK was the best because you loved us.
Submitted by: Karen Burns

Name: Sister Angela (Marie Benjamin) Hibbard, IHM
School: St. Mary (Lorain, Ohio)            Year: 1966   
Memory: I remember with much fondness and respect the IHM Sisters I had at St. Mary's from first through 12th grade. Sister Marie Banjamin was my first grade teacher and learning to read was such a joy. I was so excited the first time I read a road sign when riding in a car!
Submitted by: Cecilia Girz 

Name: Sisters at St. Gregory
School: St. Gregory (Detroit)               
Memory: I recently received the St. Gregory Alumni Newsletter and it contains a site for seeing pictures of the various IHMs who taught there. I came across the following: Sr. Ansbert (grade 1) Sr. Mary Victor (grade 2) Sr. Edward Marie (grade 3) Sr. Bernardus (grade 5) Mother Alice Clare (Principal). We moved out of St. Gregory's after my fifth grade. My younger sister had many of the same sisters, and my brother continued at St. Gregory graduating in the class of '55. We have fond memories of the sisters who taught us there. My sister was in the first graduating class of Marian High School 1963. Thanks to the IHMs for the good memories.
Submitted by: Br. William Carriere, FSC, Ph.D.

Note: Sister Ansbert is Sister Kathleen Houlihan. She lives in the IHM Health Care Center. Sister Mary Victor, Marie Walter, left the community in 1979. Sister Edward Marie is Sister Helen Walling. Sister Bernardus, Mary Branigan, died in 1980.  Mother Alice Clare, Evelyn White, died in 1961.

Name: Sister Anna Mary Waickman
School: Marygrove College (Detroit)                Year: 1991
Memory: I've never seen anyone as hardworking and dedicated as Sister Anna Mary Waickman. Every time I think of Marygrove and the Library, she's the picture that comes to mind. While I worked there as a student assistant, she was a friend. I just want to thank her for the wonderful memories, advice and support. More than words can say, thanks Sister Anna Mary for everything.
Submitted by: Carmen Arganoza-Franciliso

Name: Sister Janet
School: St. Michael (Flint, Mich.)
Memory: Sister Janet was my second grade teacher at St. Michael High School in Flint, MI. She was my favorite teacher during my 13 years at St. Mike's. I thought she was very cool. A couple of girls and I were talking about the nuns on the playground. We were wondering what there hair looked like and she overheard the conversation. She volunteered that she had short, red hair. Now I know why with the last name Sullivan. I've never forgotten her. She always made me feel like I was her favorite. She chose me to play the part of the Christ child in the school Christmas play. I felt so special. She also used to get after me for biting my nails but she was kind. She made such an impression on me. I've never forgotten her. I used to spend the end of the summer helping the nuns get their classrooms ready. They would treat us to ice cream. Other sisters I had were: Sister Mary Anthony (kindergarten), Sr. Rozalea (first grade), Sr. Marie Edwin, Sr. Camille, Mother Phillip Neri. These dedicated sisters instilled in me the meaning of our Catholic faith, a faith that sustained me during the illness and death of my daughter, Mary Beth, who died March 27, 2007, at the age of 22 from Ewings Sarcoma. God bless each of you.
Submitted by: Mary Jo Sauve