2008 Jubilarians

Melmarie Stoll, SSND
Professed in 1948

Sister Melmarie Stoll celebrates 60 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame. She has ministered as a primary and special needs teacher and educational administrator. She retired in 2003 and currently ministers through multiple volunteer activities.

A meaningful time in my ministry…
Among the most meaningful experiences I have had in my teaching was the way in which God involved me in the program for the blind. One year, I had a student who was blind and retarded. His parents and his uncle who was a priest felt that Larry should have the privilege to receive Jesus. After school, Larry and I would talk about Jesus, and how Jesus loves him and how he loves Jesus. It was decided it would be a home mass with family and friends. A blind student played his favorite hymns. At Communion time Father said: “Larry, this is Jesus.” Larry said: “Come Jesus.” These were Larry’s first words. There were many tears in that room.

What drew you to the SSND Community?
In my tenth year of teaching at Holy Assumption, I was asked to take Lois, a little blind girl who was partially blind into my classroom. Little did I know at the time, this was the beginning of my 46 years of teaching visually handicapped children at Holy Assumption. Holy Assumption School was the only Catholic school in Wisconsin that provided this service.

What has it meant to you to be a sister through the years?
I cherish my vocation and if I had to make the choice I would do it over again.

What would you like people to know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame?
The “habit” does not make the religious. We are the same people, hopefully happy, kind and caring in our work for the church.

What words of encouragement or wisdom would you offer to a woman exploring the possibility of a vocation as a woman religious?
I would tell her of my many experiences in the area of mission and vocation that confirmed me in the choice I made.

What is your current ministry?
I am retired and live with my sister and another SSND. I teach CCD classes at Holy Assumption, tutor at Corpus Christi School, mentor one of our girls at Notre Dame Middle School, I’m a member of Human Concerns, and help to provide a Communion Service for seniors at West Allis Park Place.

Sister’s missions:
St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI, 1946-1947
Holy Assumption, West Allis, WI, 1948-2003
Retired, Ara Coeli Community, Milwaukee, WI, 2003-Present