Sister Dorothy Merth, SSND

Our beloved Sister Dorothy (M. Annella) Merth, 100, died at 5:25 a.m., Saturday, October 28, 2017 in Notre Dame Health Care, Good Counsel Hill, Mankato, Minnesota. She celebrated her 100th birthday in September, but after that, her condition steadily declined and she recently entered Hospice. Sisters and nursing assistants were with her much of the time; however she slipped away when a nursing assistant left the room to get items to make her more comfortable. The funeral liturgy, with Father John Kunz as presider, will be held Friday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, followed by burial in Good Counsel Cemetery. A prayer service of remembrance will precede the funeral liturgy Friday morning at 9:00. We extend our sympathy to her sister, Sister Therese Marie Merth, SSND, her brother George, her nieces and nephews, including Sister Ann Marie Merth, SSND, and their families, her friends and colleagues, and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Anna (Hafner) Merth, and her brothers, Father Robert and William. The first child in her family, Sister Dorothy was born on September 12, 1917, in St. Paul and eleven days later, baptized Dorothy Mary at St. Agnes Church. Her brother Robert was born about two years later. In 1922, Dorothy registered as a member of the St. Agnes kindergarten class, the first of thirteen years of Catholic education under the direction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In October 1923, when Dorothy was in first grade, her mother died giving birth to William. Dorothy’s paternal grandparents moved from Sleepy Eye to St. Paul to take care of the family. She wrote, “It is to them that I owe my deepest gratitude for the valuable training they gave me.” In spring of the following year, Dorothy developed double pneumonia, which required surgery and a five-week stay in the hospital, and more recovery time at home before she returned to health. Dorothy graduated from eighth grade in June 1931 and, later that month, her father remarried. She commented, “Although I was very happy when Dad told me of his plans, the thought of parting with my grandparents was a real sorrow to me. After the wedding they returned to their home in Sleepy Eye.” Dorothy also had to make a decision that summer about where she would continue her education. She wrote, “Although I had always wanted to be a sister ever since I can remember, as I grew older I had not given the question much consideration. One day while I was in eighth grade, a few of us girls were helping Sister clean.” Dorothy was asked to get something from the teacher’s desk, and Sister remarked, “Well, Dorothy, you look quite natural at the teacher’s desk.” Dorothy took those words seriously and, as it happened, she received a scholarship to Good Counsel Academy. She talked to her dad about becoming an aspirant at Good Counsel, and though at first he hesitated, he gave his consent and she enrolled at Good Counsel that fall. In the spring of her senior year, she was selected for a part in the senior class play. While she was home for Easter vacation, her brother George was born, and Dorothy stayed home an extra week to help with the housework. When that week was up, she really did not want to return to school, but only because of her role in the play, did she go back. She graduated in June 1935 and returned home for the summer. She found it very difficult think about leaving home at the end of the summer, but finally took the decisive step and sent in her application to enter the candidature. In the candidature, she studied music and participated in a National Music Clubs Association contest held in Duluth, an experience she found valuable. As a second-year candidate, she assisted with music classes at Sacred Heart School, St. Paul. In July 1937, she was received into the novitiate and given the name Sister Mary Annella. (She later returned to her baptismal name.) In October she received the news of the birth of a little sister, Catherine (the future Sister Therese Marie). Shortly before profession, Sister Dorothy became seriously ill and required surgery, but she was able to profess her vows with her class on July 22, 1938. For the next forty years, Sister Dorothy served as a music educator at the following Minnesota schools: John Ireland, St. Peter; St. Felix, Wabasha; St. Philip and SS. Cyril & Methodius, both in Minneapolis; St. Francis de Sales, St. Agnes and St. Matthew, all in St. Paul; SS. Peter & Paul, Mankato; Holy Rosary, North Mankato; and St. Mark, Shakopee; as well as St. Mary, New England, North Dakota. She earned a BA in Music Education from Mount Mary in 1949 and a Master of Music Education from MacPhail College of Music in Minneapolis in 1966. She was very involved with the Mary Helen Richards Threshold to Music Program and provided instruction in this “ta-ta-tee-tee-ta” method to teachers at Good Counsel and in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In 1979, she became the Director of Teacher Placement for Archdiocesan Education Office and was certified in the Teacher-Perceiver and Administrator-Perceiver programs. In 1983 she was invited to be an auditor/advocate for the Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal, helping individuals move through the annulment process. She was regarded as a good interviewer who moved the process along well. She served in this capacity until 1993. While working in the tribunal, Sister Dorothy again faced serious health issues and became acquainted with the Touch for Health Kinesiology Association. (The American Kinesiology Association defines kinesiology as “the academic discipline which involves the study of physical activity and its impact on health, society, and quality of life.”) According to the Touch for Health website, “Touch for Health is the most widely used system of kinesiology in the world and is dedicated to teaching people how to empower themselves to improve their health and well-being through simple self-help techniques.” Beginning in 1987, Sister Dorothy accrued many hours of training and became a Touch for Health practitioner, who incorporated prayer for healing into the process when appropriate. She built up a loyal clientele who profited from her expertise and spoke highly of what Sister Dorothy and healing touch meant to them. She continued in this ministry until 2010, when she retired to Good Counsel. And on the Hill, she also provided Touch for Health to sisters and others as her own health permitted. Music and the arts were always important to Sister Dorothy. She had an electric piano in her apartment that she often played for enjoyment and, during her years in St. Paul, she served as a weekend parish organist. She was blessed with an excellent singing voice and was a member of the Cathedral Choir in St. Paul. She also shared her vocal abilities during the 1992 Good Counsel Fine Arts Festival, and she was a member of the Good Counsel Chapel Choir for several years. Sister Dorothy also created greeting cards using feathers and tatted flowers. Sister Dorothy’s life spanned 100 years. Now, fully restored to health, may she eternally continue to sing a new song to her God.