Friday, February 16, 2007
Eulogy for Sister Jerome
By Sister Joan
Gentle Woman, Quiet Light - a light which, for the past week flickered, waxed and waned until it was extinguiched forever last Sunday evening ( January 20, 2007) at 9:15 - but which now shines resplendently in the fullness of God's presence where it has been consumed into the flame of God's eternal light for all eternity - this gentle woman we come to honor and remember this evening.
Sr. Jerome, baptized Helen Slugocki, was born on the family farm homestead in Buchanan, SK on October 9, 1915. Her parents, Mary and Frank Slugocki, married in Shwikow, Poland in 1900 and immigrated to Canada in 1903. The enticement to leave Poland for Canada was the offer of 160 acres of land for $10.00.
Under very austere and primitive conditions, land was broken, a sod-covered log cabin was built and Frank Slugocki went off to work to Selkirk, MB while Mary, shotgun in hand, was left to look after the homestead. Gradually the Slugocki family prospered, built a larger log house, purchased a Model T Ford and became an industrious and respected family in their community. They were blessed with 12 children, Helen being the seventh child born to them. The Slugocki's were a deeply religious, very loving and close-knit family. Their devout observances and religious formation molded and shaped all their children.
Helen was every bit a lady, very much her mother's daughter. I quote now from the opening paragraph of the Slugocki Family History:
"Mother was active, delicate and very much a lady. She was of average build and her manner of dress was very representative of ladies with her cultural upbringing. Mother always wore a clean apron and her hair was neatly tied back in a bun. In addition to being neat and tidy, she was a very thrifty homemaker. Mother was a very skilled seamstress and sewed most of our family's clothes." This description could have easily applied to Helen. Helen had great compassion and love for her mother and stopped going to school in order to help her mother with the work at home.
At the early age of 10, Helen had a very significant dream, which she shared with her parish priest who confirmed for her that this was a sign from God of a religious vocation. This seed, planted at this early age, continued to grow and be nurtured by her loving and faith-filled family. Her sister Jean, who is here this evening, and with whom she was very close, relates in the family history book that when she and Helen played together, Helen always wanted to play church. Helen was the priest and all the rest were parishioners. They all had to be quiet and listen to her.
When Helen was 21 years of age, she followed the promptings of her dream of 11 years earlier and, with the support of her parents, she entered St. Benedict's Convent in Arborg choosing as her patron the name of "Jerome". In 1942, she professed her life vows as she signed her name on the altar dedicating her life to serve God.
I will remember Sr. Jerome, above all, for her gentleness, her caring, her beautiful smile, her scintillating eyes - her mother's eyes - her patience, especially with rowdy, emotionally challenged, hyperactive girls. She was the second sister I met when I came to Arborg as a Gr. XI resident. I remember how she welcomed me and helped me to feel at home as best as possible in this huge dormitory, filled wth beds and roped off with curtains. When a group of 5 of us got into the Elvis Presley mania, Sr. Jerome was catapulted into a new era when she discovered us dancing on the tables in the recreation room. But she never got angry or yelled at us though she had every reason to. She was ever the gracious lady and her disapppointed "GIRLS, PLEASE..." was all we needed to come back to our senses. I observed this patient, accepting and loving trait again as a teacher at St. Benedict's Academy. Sr. Jerome again was dorm prefect and was again subjected to teenage tirades. The girls loved her and knew she loved and accepted them even though her 'GIRLS, PLEASE' was heard very frequently resounding in the dormitory, especially after lights out.
Sr. Jerome, (and I am given to understand most of the Slugocki clan) was an avid card player. She was known to have played a mean game of canasta. Teresa, her niece, admits she made up card game rules as she went along, once telling her sister, Jean, "You're not allowed to do that in this game but I can".
She enjoyed playing sports and having fun. I quote from her school days account in the family history book once more: "I must admit I wasted much of my time fooling with notes for planning parties but I was only caught once."
Sr. Jerome was a perfectionist in all that she did. Her beautiful cushions she made for bazaars in Arborg and the quilts she crafted with the ladies were truly works of art.
A highlight in her life was a trip to the Holy Land in 1980. Walking in the footsteps of Our Lord and visiting the sacred sites affected deeply her prayer and the reading of the Scriptures.
As her health began to fail and she was confined to the Health Care Centre at the Monastery, her smile, her gentle presence continued to radiate love and gratitude to those who cared for her and visited her.
As her life slowly ebbed away and she awaited the great transition to eternal life, her ever present gentleness never left her. She exuded a peace and tranquility as she waited to meet her Lord and probably anticipated meeting all her card playing family members who had gone before her for an exciting game of Trojka. Sr. Jerome, we thank you for the gift you have been to us and to all who have known you. We love you. We will miss you. Intercede for us to the
God who has now welcomed you into the heavenly card game for all eternity.
By Sister Joan
Gentle Woman, Quiet Light - a light which, for the past week flickered, waxed and waned until it was extinguiched forever last Sunday evening ( January 20, 2007) at 9:15 - but which now shines resplendently in the fullness of God's presence where it has been consumed into the flame of God's eternal light for all eternity - this gentle woman we come to honor and remember this evening.Sr. Jerome, baptized Helen Slugocki, was born on the family farm homestead in Buchanan, SK on October 9, 1915. Her parents, Mary and Frank Slugocki, married in Shwikow, Poland in 1900 and immigrated to Canada in 1903. The enticement to leave Poland for Canada was the offer of 160 acres of land for $10.00.
Under very austere and primitive conditions, land was broken, a sod-covered log cabin was built and Frank Slugocki went off to work to Selkirk, MB while Mary, shotgun in hand, was left to look after the homestead. Gradually the Slugocki family prospered, built a larger log house, purchased a Model T Ford and became an industrious and respected family in their community. They were blessed with 12 children, Helen being the seventh child born to them. The Slugocki's were a deeply religious, very loving and close-knit family. Their devout observances and religious formation molded and shaped all their children.
Helen was every bit a lady, very much her mother's daughter. I quote now from the opening paragraph of the Slugocki Family History:
"Mother was active, delicate and very much a lady. She was of average build and her manner of dress was very representative of ladies with her cultural upbringing. Mother always wore a clean apron and her hair was neatly tied back in a bun. In addition to being neat and tidy, she was a very thrifty homemaker. Mother was a very skilled seamstress and sewed most of our family's clothes." This description could have easily applied to Helen. Helen had great compassion and love for her mother and stopped going to school in order to help her mother with the work at home.
At the early age of 10, Helen had a very significant dream, which she shared with her parish priest who confirmed for her that this was a sign from God of a religious vocation. This seed, planted at this early age, continued to grow and be nurtured by her loving and faith-filled family. Her sister Jean, who is here this evening, and with whom she was very close, relates in the family history book that when she and Helen played together, Helen always wanted to play church. Helen was the priest and all the rest were parishioners. They all had to be quiet and listen to her.
When Helen was 21 years of age, she followed the promptings of her dream of 11 years earlier and, with the support of her parents, she entered St. Benedict's Convent in Arborg choosing as her patron the name of "Jerome". In 1942, she professed her life vows as she signed her name on the altar dedicating her life to serve God.
I will remember Sr. Jerome, above all, for her gentleness, her caring, her beautiful smile, her scintillating eyes - her mother's eyes - her patience, especially with rowdy, emotionally challenged, hyperactive girls. She was the second sister I met when I came to Arborg as a Gr. XI resident. I remember how she welcomed me and helped me to feel at home as best as possible in this huge dormitory, filled wth beds and roped off with curtains. When a group of 5 of us got into the Elvis Presley mania, Sr. Jerome was catapulted into a new era when she discovered us dancing on the tables in the recreation room. But she never got angry or yelled at us though she had every reason to. She was ever the gracious lady and her disapppointed "GIRLS, PLEASE..." was all we needed to come back to our senses. I observed this patient, accepting and loving trait again as a teacher at St. Benedict's Academy. Sr. Jerome again was dorm prefect and was again subjected to teenage tirades. The girls loved her and knew she loved and accepted them even though her 'GIRLS, PLEASE' was heard very frequently resounding in the dormitory, especially after lights out.
Sr. Jerome, (and I am given to understand most of the Slugocki clan) was an avid card player. She was known to have played a mean game of canasta. Teresa, her niece, admits she made up card game rules as she went along, once telling her sister, Jean, "You're not allowed to do that in this game but I can".
She enjoyed playing sports and having fun. I quote from her school days account in the family history book once more: "I must admit I wasted much of my time fooling with notes for planning parties but I was only caught once."
Sr. Jerome was a perfectionist in all that she did. Her beautiful cushions she made for bazaars in Arborg and the quilts she crafted with the ladies were truly works of art.
A highlight in her life was a trip to the Holy Land in 1980. Walking in the footsteps of Our Lord and visiting the sacred sites affected deeply her prayer and the reading of the Scriptures.
As her health began to fail and she was confined to the Health Care Centre at the Monastery, her smile, her gentle presence continued to radiate love and gratitude to those who cared for her and visited her.
As her life slowly ebbed away and she awaited the great transition to eternal life, her ever present gentleness never left her. She exuded a peace and tranquility as she waited to meet her Lord and probably anticipated meeting all her card playing family members who had gone before her for an exciting game of Trojka. Sr. Jerome, we thank you for the gift you have been to us and to all who have known you. We love you. We will miss you. Intercede for us to the
God who has now welcomed you into the heavenly card game for all eternity.
# posted by Leonard @ 7:24 PM 
