1928 - 1949 St. Patrick's High School Reunion

Dedicated to the students who attended St. Patrick's High School during the years of 1928 - 1949, Lethbridge, Alberta. (July 29,30,31, 1988)pdf1928 to 1949 Reunion — July 29} 30, 31, 1988This memory book is respectfully dedicated to all who attended St. Patrick’s High School during the years of 1928 to 1949. Reunion July 29, 30, 31 1988 LethbridgeA[bertaSt. Patrick's High School — Lethbridge, Alberta 1928 - 1949 Deo Duce Dcctesia Ductore With God as our Leader and the Church as our Guide Several of the Original Members of the First Class — 1928 — Held in St. Patrick’s High School Row 1: Bridie (Parisel) Fraser, Anne (Honald) Adams, Helen (Gow) Welsh Row 2: Helen (McMahon) Lewis, Mark Tennant, Stan Chervinski, Helen (Duda) Tillack, Corinne (Kelly) Murphy 1 Mother FeCicitas — F.C.J. A Tribute Mother Felicitas, F.C.J. (Faithful Companions of Jesus) born Aurora Fortier in Cowley, Alberta in 1897, was the one and only principal of St. Patrick’s High School during its lifetime from 1928 to 1949. Mother Felicitas was a boarder in the F.C.J. Convent in Calgary and decided to join the order in 1913. She studied in Brussels, Belgium and Upton, England. She returned to Calgary in 1916 and took her final vows. Mother Felicitas arrived in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1919 where she taught in St. Basil’s School. When the new St. Patrick’s High School opened in 1928, she became principal and remained as such until the school’s closure in 1949. She then became principal of St. Joseph's High School until her retirement in 1958. Mother Felicitas then moved to Combermere, Ontario, where she was Mother Superior until her untimely death on September 4, 1966. Many events occurred during Mother Felicitas’ teaching career. The stock market crash in 1929; the great depression of the 1930’s; the tragedy of World War II during which some of her students died defending their country; the atom bomb and its destruction to Hiroshima, Japan; and the Korean War all are now history. But through it all, Mother Felicitas’ strong Christian faith shone through. Her basic goal for academic excellence from her students never wavered. From her biography in the F.C.J.’s notes — "She (Mother Felicitas) was in her element in the classroom where her understanding and patience made the intricacies of knowledge easier for her pupils.” The biography further states — "Her pupils have more than ordinary cause to revere her memory; her tactful watchfulness, generous patience, and sound judgement exercised on their behalf has left a lasting imprint and a deep appreciation of her fine qualities of heart and mind.” Mother Felicitas is remembered by her fellow teachers as a fine administrator and most helpful to them in each of his (her) professions. She was proud of the school’s accomplishments throughout her term as principal. Because the school had a small enrolment and the teacher-pupil ratio was lower than average, each student’s progress was easier to chart. Many students went on to become well known in their field because of the extra encouragement and attention they were accorded. Mother Felicitas died in the hospital at Barrie’s Bay north of Combermere on September 4, 1966 after a very brief illness. Her plaque on her crypt read as she lived — "Love one another as I have loved you.” John Ch. 15 - vs. 12. $ 7 ' The Nuns - Donna Smith Bishop In amber fights, in silence gfow t’rccious jewels on them 6esttnv. Ladi one a pearf within the fig lit Surrounded by a sifver wfiite. Each meditative step they mice IVitlim their ftattawed bodies mahe A vow so sacred, their praise is sung To Father, Spirit and Christ the Son. Here is the list of the teachers who taught at St. Patrick’s: whose committment to their profession and whose concern for their students made St. Patrick’s the school we all so fondly remember. Mother Felicitas Fortier, FCJ, Principal Helene Parfitt Byrne Mother Xavier O'Brien-Kelly, FCJ Margaret Rodzinyak Thielen Rev. Mother Aquinas Reardon, FCJ Jim Joevenazzo Mother Genevieve Buss, FCJ Frances Wadden Slemko Mother Theresa Miller, FCJ Mother Augustine Hochstein, FCJ Mother Philomena Feist, FCJ Mother Leona Charlebois, FCJ Mother Bernardine O'Sullivan, FCJ Mother Augustine (Sister Alice) Daly, FCJ Ottie Fitzgerald Coyne 2 Lenore (Hansen) Kuhl, Lois (Nilsson) Aucoin In the Beginning . . . For many years, the alumni of St. Patrick’s High School discussed a reunion. During coffee klatches, at weddings, funerals, or gala events, people always said, “When are we going to have a reunion?” or “Why don’t we have a reunion?” Because the school had a small enrolment, the students were close and some kept in touch with each other when they moved away from Lethbridge and they, too, often asked about a school reunion. Finally in the early summer of 1987, Lois (Nilsson) Aucoin and Lenore (Hansen) Kuhl organized the first ever St. Patrick’s High School reunion. From the outset, the original small group realized that the scope of the task would require many more workers, and so the committee was expanded to include other members. Anne (Nelson) Joevenazzo was elected Chairman, and she and Jim hosted all further meetings. The meetings were occasions of fun, friendship, and sometimes, heated discussion which placed Anne in the position of moderator, referee and peacemaker. Months of detective work, worthy of the best efforts of Scotland Yard, were required to locate the eight hundred or more former students who, in the intervening 40 years, had scattered to all corners of the known universe! The reunion, which was the culmination of the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of all members of the committee can only be described as a smashing success. The committee specially recognizes the good advice of individuals who had had experience in organizing reunions in the city: Theresa Westwood, Rex Little, Madeleine Balia and Betty Martin. "Don't bother Grandma. She’s getting ready for her high-school reunion” 3 St. Patrick’s High closed but not forgotten ST. PATRICK’S HIGH SCHOOL, CLOSEO 1949 B> KAREN SOUK of The Herald Former students of Lethbridge's St Patrick’s High School arc returning this summer to the days when students' desks cost SIS each and school janitors were paid $40 per month A reunion is planned July 29.30 and 31 for St Patrick's, which dosed in 1949. Lcnorc i Hanseni Kuhl. organi committee secretary*treasurer, says students of the old school have long heen talking about holding such an event, but it was when four high school Trends got together for coffee one year ago that action was finally taken Kuhl wrote a letter to the editor pub­lished in The Herald last May or June asking for input from anyone interested in a reunion “The response was terrific." she says. Armed with more than 800 names, the committee began the search for former students and staff, put;*ng ads in news­papers. calling families and spreading the news by word of mouth. Not counting committee members, about 300 registrations have now been received from across the United States and Canada. “It starts snowballing, and people want to get involved.'* Kuhl . The reunion has sparked excitement and high hopes not only among commit­tee members, but for many who have not lived in Lethbridge since their high school days, she adds St. Patrick s High School was located on a lot purchased for $2,100. now the site of the County of I-ethhridge office The building’s fire insurance was assessed at $25,000. Lack of essential facilities, such as a gymnasium, shop or home economics room, forced the closure of the school, its students moving to St. Joseph's High School. Subsequently, the building was used as an elementary school and a health unit office, and demolished in 1970. The reunion weekend will begin with w.ne and cheese registration and a homecoming party Fi t St. Patrick’s church hall beginning at 7 p m A dinner and dance will be held at the Lethbridge Lodge Hotel Saturday at 6 p.m. Kuhl says decorations will be in blue and silver, school colors Sunday, a noon mass will take place at St. Patrick's church, with former stu­dents making up the choir and acting as co celebrants. Total cost per person for the weekend is $50 Kuhl says the organizing committee is also endeavoring to have school pins, caps, and mugs made, in addition to “goody bags" including tourist informa­tion supplied by the Chinook Country Tounst Association and the City of Leth- bridge. Tours of the area will be available through the tourist association Saturday before the banquet A memorabilia book is planned, to feature old school pictures along with those taken during the reunion A pho­tographer will bo present registration night and at the banquet and dance. Kuhl says she expects it will be sev­eral months before the book is ready to be distributed, at a cost of $1$. Although the deadline has passed, registrations arc still being taken. Any­one wishing to attend must register at least two weeks in advance. Kuhl stresses the importance of invol­vement of St. Patrick s students still liv­ing in Lethbridge. She says in talking with other reunion committees, it has been said it is often Lethbridge resident- s who don't attend, expressing regret after the event has passed. The St. Patrick's High School reunion is for all students and staff who attended the school during its years of opera­tion. Anyone interested may contact Kuhl at 320-0932. or Lois tNilsson) Aucoin at 327-1860. iXitOttr I ’.aC*X> FfflGuSCN ANNE JOEVENAZZO left. Bob Costanzo, Frances Costanzo. and Ber- nice Gyorkos prepare for the St. Pat's High School reunion, for class­es of 1928-1949. St. Pat’s reunion under way Students and teachers of the former St Patrick s High School in Lethbridge are gathered in the city for j reunion this weekend Anne Joe vena 2 to. chairman of the organizing committee, says about invitations wen* extended to people liv­ing in various parts of Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. Jocvcruuo completed Grade 9 through 12 at St. Pat's, which was on the corner of 9th Street South and tth Ave­nue rat tbe<urrcnt Cour.tv of Icthbndgc* administrator office site) until it dosed doors in 1949 The reunion began Friday w ith regtt tration at St. Patrick's Church Hall, and continues today with a chicken cordon bleu dinner at the Iwthbridgc Lodge Cuert speaker will be historian Alex Johnston, who will offer a history* of Lethbridge A dance will follow Sunday, there will he a brunch at St. Pat's Hall after a noon mass at St Pat's Church. 318 toth St S "We arc looking forward to a very good time visiting with and seeing poo pie we were aware of but haven't seen for years and >rars." Jocvcnazzo told The Herald this week. Jorveiuzio has many fond memories of the school, among them of the princi­pal. Mother Fehcitas. ' She had such a sense of humor and a fairness that reached all of the stu­dents." said Joevcnazzo "I don't think there was anyone who did not appreci­ate and enjoy her." Another favorite personality was Mother Xavier, a "wonderful" music teacher who helped St. Pat's students win man> prim at Kiwanis Music Fes tivab. Tuosday. August 2. 1988 - THE LETHBRIDGE HERALO - A3 KAKO *0-0 a* KIVT4 «oov Remembering high school clays F<xmer students Bob Ccnstanzo of Lethbridge. left. Eda Scroggio (nee Gardh) and Dawson Creek's Elizabeth Balia (nee Salansky) remember their hsgh school days at Saturday's St. Patrick's High School reunion. It was the first reunion for students o! the school, which has been gone from the city's landscape for many years. Mere than 400 people attended, some coming trom as far away as Alaska, Georgia and Nova Scotia. Permission granted by Lethbridge Herald. 4 We meet to Qian . . . Dorothy (Ascroft) Sawicki. Frances (Salansky)Kaupp. Robert Costanzo. Anne (Nelson) Joevenazzo, Bernice (Pytlarz) Reno Lizzi Gyorkos, Lois (Nilsson) Aucoin Joe Horhozer, Catherine (Bolokoski) Rasmussen. Cecelia (Salansky) Hart. Yvonne (Clandillon) Arsene, Lois Pauline (Pavan) Doenz Kluczny, Harold Sturm Mary (Seleski) Cartwright. Everal (Supina) Horhozer, Mercedes (Sweda) Pennington 5 St. Patrick’s High ScfiooC Reunion Committee Row 1: Lenore (Hansen) Kuhl, Lois (Nilsson) Aucoin, Catherine (Bolokoski) Rasmussen, Frances (Wadden) Slemko. Anne (Nelson) Joevenazzo Row 2: Mercedes (Sweda) Pennington, Lois Kluczny, Everal (Supina) Horhozer, Jim Joevenazzo, Frances (Ascroft) Costanzo, Dorothy (Ascroft) Sawicki Row 3: Cecelia (Salansky) Hart, Mary (Seleski) Cartwright, Harold Sturm, Joe Horhozer Row 4: Bernice (Pytlarz) Gyorkos, Reno Lizzi, Frances (Salansky) Kaupp, Robert Costanzo Missing: Yvonne (Clandillon) Arsene. Pauline (Pavan) Doenz, Sister Helene Wadden, Gertrude (Gow) Munroe, Ron Viney Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Directors — Anne (Nelson) Joevenazzo — Dorothy (Ascroft) Sawicki — Bernice (Pytlarz) Gyorkos — Robert Costanzo — Lois (Nilsson) Aucoin — Lenore (Hansen) Kuhl — Frances (Salansky) Kaupp — Frances (Wadden) Slemko — Pauline (Pavan) Doenz — Yvonne (Clandillon) Arsene — Reno Lizzi Phoning Committee — Jim Joevenazzo — Lois Kluczny — Gertrude (Gow) Munroe — Mercedes (Sweda) Pennington — Catherine (Bolokoski) Rasmussen — Harold Sturm — Ron Viney — Sr. Helene Wadden — Mary (Seleski) Cartwright — Margaret (Petrunia) Osborne — Betty (Demers) Zook Committee — Frances (Ascroft) Costanzo — Cecelia (Salansky) Hart — Everal (Supina) Horhozer — Joe Horhozer Book Committee — Cecelia (Salansky) Hart — Frances (Salansky) Kaupp — Dorothy (Ascroft) Sawicki — Robert Costanzo 6 £j)2££CinG5 Welcome everyone! The Reunion Committee invites you to have a wonderful weekend, renewing old friendships, making new ones. There is a list of who is attending at the Registration area. Please make sure to have your photo taken for the Memorial Book. If you have not already ordered your book, you may do so tonight. Please provide information about you and your family for the book. Copies of pictures taken Friday and Saturday may be ordered. Souvenirs - spoons and hats are available at the Registration area. Enclosed is your dinner ticket. Please present it at the door on Saturday evening. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES - FRIDAY, July 29 7:00 p.m. - Registration and "Homecoming Party" at St. Patrick's Hall. - Individual photos will be taken for Memorial Book. - No Host bar - light luncheon - SATURDAY, July 30 11:00 a.m. - Tour of the City of Lethbridge $3.50 Meet at the Lethbridge Lodge - 10:45 a.m. - SATURDAY, July 30 - Dinner and dance 6:00 p.m. Lethbridge Lodge Hotel - Registration desk open for those who missed Friday night. - Individual photos for those who missed, plus any group pictures that you may want. - No host bar - SUNDAY, July 31 12:00 noon - Mass at noon in St. Patrick's Church - breakfast to follow in church hall PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME TAGS AT ALL TIMES 7 The EarCy Tears A There's a generation now that never heard of Hoot Gibson or a rumble seat, who never tasted homemade root beer or a corn-silk cigarette, never heard of Oma­ha Beach and Tarawa, cannot imagine gas rationing and bell-bottom trousers, cares little about digging mayapple root or making rabbit traps, never chased an ice wagon for the chips, never had a hair­cut with hand-powered clippers, never wore a mustard poultice on a chest or an asafetida bag hung around the neck, never cranked an automobile, enjoyed a moonlight boat ride, sent a penny post­card, hitched up a horse, carried a buck­et of coal, chewed roof tar, or felt a depression... Hasn't life been good to us old-timers? 8 01 11 Friday Evening The culmination of months of planning, endless meetings and hours and hours of steady work came to an end on Friday, July 29 when over 400 high school friends gathered in St. Patrick’s Church hall to renew old friendships. School colors of blue and silver balloons and streamers laced the pillars to set the scene as the Reunion celebrations got under way. The atmosphere was sizzling with energy as shrieks and squeals of delight were heard all over the hall. Embraces were magnetic and laughter mixed with tears as former students reflect­ed on years gone by. We were momentarily suspended in time — caught between two worlds — the past and the present. The warmth, sincerity and love was evident as school friends came together after a span of 60 years. “Down Memory Lane” — a collection of ‘old’ borrowed photographs was a favorite attrac­tion. Giggles and teasing were in order as we saw ourselves the way we we re. The “Welcome to Lethbridge” banner suspended from the ceiling tiles and an old blue and white school sweater along with school rings, crests, yearbooks and stationery added to the very special feeling permeating the crowd. Bartenders Joe Horhozer and Harold Sturm we re haute couture in their panama hats, striped shirts and black vests. Former students remarked that it took one and a half hours to get from the registration desk (a distance of 20 feet) to the bar! For many the reunion was a long-time dream come true. The very special feeling evoked many memories of former years, especially school day memories, that made us want this evening to go on forever. We were proud of our accomplishments, proud of our predecessors and proud of each other. And just think — this was only the beginning — we still had two days to go! Florence (Yanosik) Klem, John Klem, Cecilia (Lazaruk) Metcalfe. Adeleen (Matthews) Dickie. Alta Clarke, Marie Rabusic taking registrations. 12 > 'lle€co«