For whatever reason Agnes Tully Stevens chose to save the
article recounting the funeral of Sister Mary Mercy, she merely expressed the
same deep feelings of respect and appreciation mirrored by many at that 1912
funeral.
The outpouring of love expressed during the funeral must
have been overwhelming. I have no doubt Agnes Tully—the by-now newly married
Mrs. William Stevens—was among the mourners. She may even have accompanied the
funeral procession as far as its destination at the Calvary cemetery to the
north of Chicago
where her own family members had also been laid to rest.
But was it only for the sentiment of the moment’s poignancy
that she saved this clipping? The article itself was cut, folded, and
unceremoniously pinned together with a common straight pin. The holes and
bending of the paper are marks cemented over time and still visible in the
scanned copies.
What I now need to puzzle over was whether there was any
further connection between this former student at the Saint Anne’s Parochial
School and its former Sister Superior.
As a last token of
their love and gratitude for Sister Mercy, several hundred members of St. Anne’s
Parochial School, St. Anne’s Alumni and the parochial sodalities accompanied
the remains of the departed Sister to the northern boundary of the parish and
many all the way to Calvary.
Though Sister Mary Mercy has gone,
her work and her influence will remain for many years in the hearts of those
who knew and loved her. She has labored faithfully and well. She merited by her
life that great calm and peace of soul which came upon her a few days before
she passed from this world. We know that now she is happily enjoying the reward
which belongs to those who cut themselves off from this world by choosing the
Lord as their portion and giving themselves up body and soul to His service.
May her soul rest in peace and may her memory remain fresh in our hearts for
many, many years!
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