A Memorable Lesson in Happiness
The Story of Sister Coletta McNamee CSA
“Make up your mind to be happy, and you will be.” Those words were
burned into Sister Coletta McNamee’s heart and mind more than 60 years
ago. The 17-year-old Coletta was visiting a farm in Elyria run by the
Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA). The words were spoken by Sr.
Michael M. Carrabine, one of six elderly sisters tending to the CSA
farm. Those inspiring words proved to be true for the next 63 years of
Sr. Coletta’s life.
She had
thought for years of becoming a sister. She was attracted to the nuns by
their joyful smiles and peacefulness, which they always kept even as the
country was in both a depression and a war. She kept her thoughts to
herself until babysitting for a dear lady, Coletta McIntyre Bonza, in
whom she confided her heart’s desire. The elder Coletta knew of the
sisters through Sr. Michael, whom she befriended when Sr. Michael came
to her door to ask for alms for St. Vincent’s Orphanage. The orphanage
was owned and operated by the CSA Sisters. Her advice for the young Coletta, “You go to the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.”
The farm in Elyria
supplied produce, chickens and eggs for the sisters’ orphanage and the
motherhouse. During the young Coletta’s days at the farm, there was much
talk of convent life. She happily joined the sisters in chapel for
exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction in mid-afternoon, as
well as for tea and cookies. With the sisters’ hospitality, contentment
and smiling faces, the young Coletta was convinced this was the life
ahead for her.
She next visited with the
sisters’ Mother Superior, Sr. Clementine. Sister instructed Coletta to
write a letter for admission and gave her the Miraculous Medal and the
Novena prayers. Coletta wrote and mailed her letter, and said her novena
at least three times a day for the next nine days. Shortly thereafter,
she received her acceptance letter!
Sr. Coletta taught grades
four through eight for a number of years at St. Joseph’s and Immaculate
Heart of Mary schools in Cuyahoga Falls. In l964, she became principal
at Divine Redeemer School in Hanahan, South Carolina. During this
period, she also taught 7th and 8th grades and
served as principal of the CCD classes from 1st to 12th
grade! She then served as principal of St. Joseph’s back in Cuyahoga
Falls until 1978, then principal at Immaculate Conception School, Akron. After that, she was elected to her congregation’s General Council
in 1981 to be in charge of temporal affairs for the next eight years.
Not content to rest on her
laurels, she decided to take an internship to become a nursing home
administrator. She became assistant administrator at St. Augustine Manor
from 1990 to 2000. Sister Coletta McNamee believes each job gave her
unique and valuable experiences – and she treasures them in her heart.
When illness became part of her daily life,
Sr. Coletta maintained her positive attitude toward all that life has
given her. She used adaptive tools to continue her ministry of a gentle
“yes” to life. She enjoys a spin in her electric chair to the lovely
gardens around the building, joins with others on adventurous bus trips
and is always a prayerful presence at daily Mass. Conversation with a
gift for storytelling makes each encounter with her a pleasure for
fellow residents and staff at Regina Health Center, her present home.
Indeed, Sr. Coletta made up her mind
– she was and IS happy!
By Meg McGarry
6.21.2008
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