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Jan. 12, 2006
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No minutes to waste, even
when you’re 100 years old |
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Dominican sister celebrates century with friends, family |
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| 100 AND COUNTING — Dominican Sr. Cecilia Olle gets a birthday hug from Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan during a celebration for Sr. Cecilia at the Siena Center in Racine Jan. 5. Sr. Cecilia, who turned 100 on Jan. 6, was treated to a birthday cake during a luncheon at the center. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero) |
RACINE — When Sr. Cecilia Olle decided to retire from teaching, she was 89 years old. That was 11 years ago.
Sr. Cecilia, a Racine Dominican nun, lives at the Siena Center and spends her time praying, reading, knitting, crocheting and watching “Judge Judy.”
“I like that program, she makes a lot of good sense,” said Sr. Cecilia, cautioning, “but I don’t always like her language in the courtroom.”
Born Jan. 6, 1906 in Racine, Sr. Cecilia proudly celebrated her 100th birthday on Jan. 5, at a luncheon with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan.
Three years ago, Sr. Cecilia became acquainted with Archbishop Dolan when he arrived for a welcoming dinner at the Siena Center.
“He was new to Milwaukee, so he came here and shook hands with all the sisters. I was introduced to him as the oldest sister in the center and in the Racine Dominican community,” she said, eyes twinkling.
“He asked me how old I was, and I said I was 97. He said he would come back for my 100th birthday…and so I held him to it,” she said, laughing. “But it is a deep, dark secret.”
Energetic, witty and with precise recall, Sr. Cecilia brings a deep and reverent joy to the community at the Siena Center.
“She is a delightfully spry lady, who takes care of her own needs — she is not in assisted living,” said Jean Mullooly, director of communications for the Racine Dominicans. “A week or so ago, she walked two long corridors to my office just to thank me for a picture I’d given to her.”
Sr. Cecilia has lived a life of service to others, especially children. An accomplished pianist and violinist, she earned her bachelor’s degree in music from the Detroit Institute of Art in 1935 and her master’s from UW-Madison in 1952.
She taught classroom and private music in Dominican-run elementary and high schools in Wisconsin and Michigan. From 1957-1960, she was the coordinator of the Racine School of Music, and from 1960-1970 taught music at the Dominican College in Racine. In all, over 70 years were devoted to musical instruction.
While she occasionally hears from some of her former students, Sr. Cecilia recalls a few who have made an extraordinary impression on her.
“I remember one doctor who had two young kids,” she said. “One of them, named Joshua, played in a concert and afterward his father proudly came up to me and said that I had influenced his son for life.”
Not long after, Sr. Cecilia began teaching his younger brother, who was a bit more precocious than the first.
“I couldn’t believe how fast he was catching on and figured his brother was helping him,” she said. “So I asked him, ‘Who helps you with your piano?’ and he looked at me with these big, soulful eyes and said, ‘Oh, only you, sister.’ Well, I gave him a big hug and never forgot that — he made me feel so good.”
Another student traveled from Michigan to perform an organ piece for her retirement party. He brought her a gift of a framed copy of a papal blessing.
“He was such a dear, and he still keeps in touch,” she said.
Born at her grandmother’s home in Racine, Sr. Cecilia, baptized Marie Anne, was the second of four children in the family, and the only surviving child of the late Thomas and Christine Olle.
“We had a beautiful home and our parents never let us quarrel as kids. We had a happy life,” she said. “My great-grandfather wanted a priest and a sister in the family, but I was the only one out of my family to join a religious community.”
It was in the fifth grade at St. Catherine Academy when preparing for her first holy Communion that Sr. Cecilia realized the tug on her heart to become a nun.
“I didn’t want to join a community until I finished high school,” she said, “So I kept it a secret from everyone until then.”
On the day she was to leave for the community, Sr. Cecilia’s father looked longingly at her, finally stammering, “Just know what you are doing,”
“My Dad told my godfather that I was going and he said, ‘Oh, why do you let the little fool go,” she said, laughing.
While very happy with her vocation as a Dominican nun, Sr. Cecilia admitted that it was sometimes difficult to leave family and friends behind.
“When I went through the convent, we were not allowed to communicate with the outside world,” she said, “We could only write to our parents and only came home once or twice a year — and when we did, we were so busy, it was hard to see everyone.”
Sr. Cecilia professed her final vows on Aug. 4, 1927, and first among her many missions was an unanticipated excursion to a Wausaukee butcher shop.
“It was almost my first day in that community and Sr. Canisia thought I was too skinny, so she took me to the meat market to be weighed,” she said, laughing. “I weighed 106 pounds. She made sure I ate a lot and took me back almost a year later. I had gained 30 pounds, and she was finally satisfied.”
Two years later, Sr. Cecilia was sent to a larger mission as a music teacher. No one paid attention to what she ate and in a short time, was happily back to her normal weight.
Always looking for ways to give and be useful, 27 years ago, Sr. Cecilia sought out Sr. Marya Klapkowski to help with the Racine Dominican’s White Elephant sale.
“She found me in the storage room located under the chapel with all the bags and boxes of items for the sale,” said Sr. Marya. “She told me that I needed some organization and offered to help me. We have been best friends ever since.”
In addition to offering spiritual guidance, Sr. Cecilia still does alterations for many of Sr. Marya’s outfits.
Quick to point out that the friendship is mutual, Sr. Cecilia quickly reminded, “Sr. Marya takes care of me when I don’t hear.”
After Vatican II, many of the social restrictions were lifted, which allowed Sr. Cecilia to reconnect with her cousins, Michelle and Betty Olle, who unbeknownst to her, joined the Racine Dominican order.
“We really didn’t know a whole lot about Sr. Cecilia until much later, and then we found out that our grandfathers were brothers,” said Sr. Betty.
As they were all from large families, Sr. Michelle stated that they began growing closer as they dipped into the family history.
“As we grow older, we are connecting,” she said. “We enjoy Sr. Cecilia’s phenomenal memory and her amazing faith. She also accepted whatever she was asked to do, and did it willingly. She saw that it was God’s call and adapted to anything.”
For Sr. Betty, one of the more rewarding aspects of their relationship is in watching Sr. Cecilia radiate around extended family.
“She loves her family so much and keeps connected to them,” she said. “And we see the joy in her eyes as she is surrounded by so many people who love her. She always has a smile on her face and will welcome you with a hug you will never forget.”
An important aspect of Sr. Cecilia’s prayer life is in praying for an increase in vocations.
“We need more vocations,” she affirmed, “And I wish I could tell you how to get others to enter a community, but I just pray that they do — it has to come from within, as I can’t give it to anyone else.”
Even at 100, Sr. Cecilia plans to be around for a long time.
“I just try to live each day like it is my last,” she said, “Every minute could be my last one and I don’t want to waste it.” |
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