Sister M. Sheila McCall, SSND

Just three days before her 101st birthday, our beloved Sister M. Sheila McCall, 100, died peacefully at 1:10 p.m., Friday, December 2, 2016, in Notre Dame Health Care, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato, Minnesota. Members of the Notre Dame Health Care staff were with her when she died. The Funeral Liturgy, with Father Eugene Stenzel as presider, will be held Tuesday, December 6, at 10:30 in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, followed by burial in the Good Counsel Cemetery. A prayer service of remembrance will be held at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday morning. We extend our sympathy to her nieces and nephews and their families, her friends, former students and colleagues, and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Dora (Jensen) McCall, her sisters Alicia Maas, Betty Tucci, and Agnes McCall, and her brothers Paul, John, Leo and Edward. Sister Sheila began her autobiography: “Amidst a violent snowstorm on the morning of December 5, 1915, a wee little baby came to our home as a Christmas gift. That baby was none other than myself, the fifth of eight children. I was given only one name, Catherine, because there was a diversity of opinion in the family concerning the second name.” Her father, Edward McCall, was born in Mankato, and her mother, Dora Jensen, was a native of Aarhus, Denmark. The McCall family resided in St. Paul, where Catherine and her brothers and sisters attended St. Andrew School, and were taught by School Sisters of Notre Dame. Sister Sheila commented on her family life: “I was fortunate in having Edward McCall and Dora Jensen as my very remarkable parents. We lived a happy, satisfying life in St. Paul. My mother was convinced that no one was truly an educated person unless they had some knowledge of music. So my sisters and brothers all had to have some experience with an instrument of their choosing. Eventually I had a number of good piano lessons from Sister M. Theophane (Dreis) while in grades three and four.” In 1926, when Catherine was eleven, her father died. She wrote, “It seems that my father’s death made it easier for me to carry out my big plan, namely to become a religious.” The following September, Catherine entered the aspiranture at Good Counsel in Mankato as an eighth grader. She continued, “The reason for my departure from our dear home this early was to relieve my poor mother.” One special memory for Sister Sheila of her five years at Good Counsel was her confirmation at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Mankato. During the summers, she returned home to be with her family and especially remembered times spent with extended family. An aunt and uncle took Catherine and her brother to Yellowstone in 1931 and she wrote, “That trip made me realize more the greatness and beauty of the God who created this wonderland of delights.” Following high school graduation in 1932, Catherine entered the SSND candidature. During her second year, she did her practice teaching and later wrote, “That year was a revelation to me, for little did I realize the duties and hardships of a teacher. All the same, I loved the work and am eagerly looking forward to many years in the classroom.” Catherine was received into the novitiate in 1934 and given the name, Sister M. Sheila. After profession of first vows in 1935, she began a teaching ministry that did indeed encompass “many years in the classroom.” Serving first as an intermediate grade teacher and then a junior high instructor, she taught in the following schools: St. Felix, Wabasha (1935-38); St. Mary, New England, North Dakota (1938-42 and 1949-52); St. Peter, Hokah (1942-46); and St. Peter, New Haven, Iowa (1946-49). For the next several years, she taught in the state of Washington: St. Mary, Chewlelah (1952-53); Holy Family, Clarkston (1953-57); Christ the King, Omak (1957-58); and Guardian Angel, Colton (1958-1960). Her remaining years in full-time education were spent in Minnesota: St. Mary, Madelia, where she was also principal (1960-66); Holy Childhood, St. Paul (1966-68); Holy Rosary, North Mankato (1968-72); Providence, South St. Paul (1972-73); St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul (1973-79); and St. Agnes, St. Paul (1979-1986). In 1986 she began tutoring at St. Agnes, a position she held until 1989. In 1989 she returned to St. Francis de Sales as a part-time teacher until 1995. From 1995 until 1999, she served as a tutor at St. Francis-St. James United. During her years of teaching, she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1944 from Mount Mary College and a master’s degree in 1964 from the College of St. Thomas. Sister Sheila commented on her teaching experiences with regard to music, “In my early years, I delighted in using the portable organ to face my students as we reviewed and sang the songs the music teacher had taught us. Oh, what joy!” As an educator, she encouraged students to work to their full potential. She endeared herself to students and staff, as was evidenced in these comments by St. Francis-St. James United School principal Regina Niichel when Sister Sheila retired in 1999: “Sister Mary Sheila is the school ‘handy lady.’ When there is a job to be done, I go to her. Of all her many talents, religion is the most polished! She was the school religion specialist. She knew quickly where to find a Bible passage and could answer or find the answer to most religious questions. Such a dear soul! She is most congenial and loves to tell jokes and even dance the Irish jig. Prayer is a most important priority and I hope she will continue to pray for us as we will for her.” Sister Sheila commented about her tutoring, “I am blessed in my ministry of tutoring at St. Francis-St. James United. I am very busy encouraging and challenging my dear students to greater effort and perseverance. Helping the challenged pupil is a most satisfying service in the Master’s Vineyard.” Sister Sheila appreciated the opportunity to teach in several states, and wrote, “One great memory of Washington is the time spent teaching in the religious education program at Coulee Dam.” Sister Sheila loved to travel and attributed that to her mother, who also loved to travel and “packed the children on the train and headed off to visit family in Utah.” Family members remember traveling with Mrs. McCall to visit her daughter in North Dakota and Washington. Sister Sheila described some of her travel experiences: “I have been fortunate to travel to New York for a workshop, as well as Boulder, Colorado. I have also traveled to a number of southern states and also to Mexico City. What a great thrill to see Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica and the famous picture. Traveling is a great spiritual and educational treat. Our spiritual renewal program in Rome in 1981 was super. Participating in the processions and liturgies and viewing all the sights of Lourdes was indeed a privilege.” In addition to her love for music, Sister Sheila also had an eye for artistic arrangement, and wrote, “Another great artistic ability which is sometimes overlooked is organizing art supplies in an artistic way. One of my great delights is keeping shelving artistically arranged and pleasing to the eye.” Sister Sheila’s family was extremely important to her. On the occasion of her 90th birthday, her family members compiled a scrapbook of their memories of her. Over and over the comments attest to Sister Sheila’s love for and support of her family, along with her wonderful sense of humor. In line with that characteristic, following her retirement to Good Counsel, she would share the joke of the day with sisters and staff. “I have chosen you and you are mine.” Sister Sheila’s funeral liturgy theme was also the theme for her Golden Jubilee celebration in 1985. At that time she gave thanks for her relatives, friends and sister companions and for her call to follow Christ. May she now experience the fullness of this call – eternal happiness with the God who first called her over 100 years ago!