  Sister Mary Ell
I am a Saskatchewan prairie farmer's daughter, the eldest of eight
children. My parents were pioneers of German descent and we spoke a
German dialect, which posed a problem when I entered the Public school
in 1918.
Because English was the only language permitted on the school grounds
and I knew no English, life was very unpleasant and unhappy. My mother
had taught me to read and write the German script so I knew the mechanics
of reading, which helped me, and my days at school became happier.
My parents also taught us our Catechism where we were told that
God made us to know, love, and serve him in this world and be with
him in heaven. This was the purpose of life and only by following
that law would we be happ
There had been a problem in the school district regarding the staffing
of the public High School. Finally a decision was made to ask religious
Sisters to do the teaching. The Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate
Conception accepted the invitation. They were well received and
school life became interesting and exciting. My brothers and I drove
ourselves
to school, a distance of two miles. On cold, winter days we were
often offered hot chocolate by one of the Sisters. This act of
charity showed me the spirit of these Sisters and I liked it.
During these days in school, I saw in these Sisters the way of life
my parents tried to instill in me.
It was also about this time that I felt a call from God to follow
their example of service in the Kingdom of God. Eventually I entered
the novitiate of the S.C.I.C.'s and became a professed religious.
During my stay in Saint John I obtained a first
class New Brunswick teacher's license and was now ready for the
missions.
My first appointment was to teach in a boys home in Burnaby, B.C.
This was a challenge because we lived in the same home as the boys,
so, along with teaching, the Sisters had the care of the boys as
well. After a year I was transferred to Edmonton to teach in the
Edmonton Separate School system. Although I had a First Class N.B.
license, I had to take another year at Normal School in Edmonton.
Life as a teacher appealed to me. I was always ready to be part
of a group that would be involved in improving ourselves or trying
new methods. I taught twenty-five years in the Primary Grades in
St. Alphonsus School, and six years as Principal in Sacred Heart
School, Wetaskiwin, Alberta. I then spent twenty years teaching in
Private schools in B.C. and
Winnipeg. After that I returned to Edmonton where I continued to
serve the community and the church wherever the need presented itself.
I have been blessed with good health and a willing spirit to try
many things. My religious Community has given me many opportunities
to grow spiritually for which I am grateful. I have lived through
many changes since Vatican II and I am grateful for living in this
time of our history.
In December 2000 I celebrated my 90th birthday. I have changed my
lifestyle, for Now I take longer sleeps, pray more, read more books,
and tutor anyone who needs my services in learning English as a second
language. Life has never been boring for me. May God grant me a peaceful
entrance into Eternity.
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