1967/68 GRADE 3 CLASS REUNION

If ever there is an award for the school with the most loyal and the most fun-loving graduates, I think St Patrick's Convent Schools will definitely be top contender!  Christine Rossiter Butler and Teri Healey Evans have sent me news of their annual schoolfriends' get together. On 14 October 2022, the group met again for some reminiscing, fun, and laughter.

Teri said:  "Today I had the pleasure of getting together with some of my St. Patrick's Girls School classmates.  Unfortunately, some couldn't attend and there are some who we couldn't reach or sadly had passed away. Here is our grade 3 class and today's photo. 4 of the ladies surprised us by wearing a replica of our School uniform! Lol. So nice every year to get together and reminisce and have a few (well a lot) of laughs!  St. Patrick's Girls are the best!"  

Christine and Teri have also sent some great pictures.  Here are the photos and Christine has kindly given us names.

Christine and Terri with their Grade 3 Class, 1967/68
(Teacher is Mrs Coady)

14 October 2022

Back: Ann Norris Lastiwaka, Judy Kavanagh Morgan, Debbie Barron Anderson, Donna Simmonds Brown, Ann O'Driscoll, Joanne Green Gillespie, Janice Fagan, Christine Rossiter Butler

Middle: Cathy Handrigan Vincent, Teri Healey Evans

Front: Mary Harris Squires, Donna Constantine Walsh, Charlene Whelan Pike, Karen Mugford Fitzgerald, Ellen Stone Wright

 Ellen, Karen, Charlene, Donna (Any knees showing?)

Terri imparted a bit of typical 'Convent School' wisdom.  She said that the uniformed ladies knelt down to demonstrate how the Sisters would measure the length of the uniforms.  If, when kneeling, the hem didn't touch the floor, then the uniform was judged to be too short! 😲 

At the get together, they all laughed a lot over that bit of nostalgia, but I don't suppose anyone laughed much when the Nuns were actually doing the measuring! 

Did you notice the little touch that added authenticity to the uniforms and to what it was like to go to St Patrick's Convent Schools?  That blue ribbon and medal pinned to each uniform?  That was the norm every May.  A blue ribbon and medal in honour of Our Lady in the month of May and a red ribbon and medal or Sacred Heart Badge in honour of the Sacred Heart in the month of June.  Well done for thinking of the ribbons ladies.  It was a beautiful touch!

And another bit of authenticity is the 'Presentation Clutch'! The girls in uniform all have their hands clasped just as we did when we were in school. (Have a scroll through this site and you will see the same thing in all the old school pictures.)  In my days at St Patrick's, we referred to this hand clasping as the 'Presentation Clutch'.  It's so nice that you remembered. 

In Christine's email, she said that she looks forward to this gathering every year and that she hopes to continue for a long time!  Oh, Christine, I am with you on that and hope to be posting your contributions for many years to come. As Teri said, "ST PATRICK'S GIRLS ARE THE BEST!"

👉👉A little P S.  I just heard a whisper that the uniforms were made by Donna Constantine Walsh.  Excellent job, Donna.

CAN YOU HELP?

Some folks are in need of a little assistance today.  Can you help?

Our first plea is from Paula Cowan-Vineham.  Paula’s message goes, “To all the St Patrick’s Ladies that have graduated 1979 from Holy Heart, this is reunion in 2019.  We are trying to gather as many as we can.  Please join our group HHM 1979, married and maiden name and feeder group.”  

This is the link https://www.kijiji.ca/v-events/st-johns/holy-heart-of-mary-high-school-40th-reunion-class-of-1979/1332502915

Holy Heart Yearbook, 1978/79

Next we hear from Donna Constantine Walsh.  Donna says;      "I'm looking for girls who are in this picture, St Patrick's Girls' School 1968 or graduated from this school in 1974.  If you know of anyone in the following list, would you please tag them or send them an email to get in touch. 

Rosalind Stewart, Sharon Power

Judy Murphy, Sharon Peddle

Pamela Norton, Janet Martin

Cathy Donnelly, Maureen Kinsella

Madonna Hearn, Veronica Pitcher

Pam Barrington, Bonnie Mullins

Eileen Mullins, Yvonne Cullen

Frances Hynes, Heather Martin

Louise Osmond, Annette Graham

Beverly Simms, Darlene Thomas

Patsy Keating, Cathy Walker

Dianne White, Rhonda Mackey

Patsy Brown”

 

Donna's class photo from 1968

From the USA, comes an email from Bernadette Murphy Andrejco.  Bernadette also seeks a little help.  “So happy to have found this!  A friend recommended the blog!  I was in Miss Murphy’s class 1949.  Does anyone have a photo?  My name is Bernadette Murphy Andrejco.  I have lived in the states since age 15 and was very excited to have my grandchildren visit this past summer of 2017.  They loved it and now want me to write about my childhood in St John’s.  Thanks for any help.”

 

The School where Bernadette would have attended
Miss Murphy's Kindergarten Class

Bernadette lived on the corner of Shaw St and Warbury St and I hope that someone out there can give her a little help.  She hasn't left a contact for us but, if you have any info for her, please leave it here in the comments or email it to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and I will get it to her.

Thanks everyone for your help with all of this.  I hope we can get some good results.

CLASSMATES TOGETHER AGAIN!

The St Patrick's Girls are at it again - getting together, sharing memories and generally just enjoying the company of girlhood friends.  They certainly know the value of friends and take great pleasure in their long lasting friendships.

 

We have received news of two such get togethers.

 

Joan Fogarty has sent the following:

"We got together Wednesday night (27th May) for our Spring dinner. Here is a photo."

Spring Dinner 2015

Front row: Eleanor Sears Vatcher, Patricia McCarthy Philpot.

Second row: Brenda Casey Grouchy, Mary Bulger Corcoran, Rosemary Ashley Healy, Mary Fitzgerald, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Joan Reynolds Fogarty, Joan Ryan Cobb, Bonnie Beck Byrne.

 

We get together three times a year: Spring, Fall, and Christmas."

 

This band of schoolfriends are extremely loyal and suppport each other in sadness and in joy.  They certainly are an inspiration and I hope I will be hearing news of their meetings when we are all well into our "Golden years"!

 

Donna Constantine Walsh sent news of a gathering organised by Donna and classmate Christine Rossiter Butler.  Their group graduated from St Patrick's in 1974.  Some of them met up at Donna's home on Sunday 31st May and Donna has sent us this photo of the group.  Donna has given us a list of the names of the ladies in the photo (all maiden names).

CLASS OF 1974

Back Row L-R:

Ellen Stone, Gladys Layman, Charline Whalen, Sharon Murphy, Karen Mugford

Front Row L-R: Donna Constantine, Linda Griffiths, Debbie Barron, Judy Kavanagh, Christine Rossiter, Collette Boudois, Marilyn Maher, Anne O'Driscoll

LOVE THAT BANNER!

I had to post this picture too because I wanted a close-up of that wonderful banner.  I love it.  I believe I am correct in saying that it was specially made by Donna.  Nice one, Donna!

 

Well, ladies, once again you have all shown that friendships forged in childhool can last a lifetime.  Thank you Joan, Donna and Christine for sharing with us.  I look forward to hearing about future gatherings and seeing all those smiling faces.  The very best of luck to each and every one of you.

GATHERING 2015 - 1974 GRADUATES

Last year, Christine Butler (Rossiter) organised a reunion for the girls who graduated with her in 1974.  It was a huge success and the ladies suggested doing it again.  Christine has once again taken the lead and is planning a gathering for May 2015.  To help spread the word and alert everyone to this event, I am posting details here.  Please pass the message to any classmates or teachers you know and make this reunion an even greater success than last year!

CHRISTINE'S GRADE 3 CLASS.  ARE YOU IN THIS PICTURE?  IF YOU ARE, YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED

TO A GET- TOGETHER ON 31st MAY 2015! 

(CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM.)

 

The gathering is planned for SUNDAY, 31st MAY.   Please meet at 2 O'CLOCK at 35 NEWMAN ST, ST JOHN'S (COWAN HEIGHTS), where Donna Walsh (Constantine) will be delighted to welcome school friends to her home.  You will then have a few hours to do a lot of chatting and laughing before a POTLUCK SUPPER is served at around 5 O'CLOCK. 

 

It is sure to be a very enjoyable meeting of old friends so don't miss it!  However, Christine must know in advance how many will attend!  

Please contact her by email on butlerchristine@nl.rogers.com 
 

DONNA WALSH SENT US THIS PHOTO
OF THE HAPPY GATHERING LAST YEAR. 
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME PHOTOS OF
THE UPCOMING EVENT IN MAY 2015.

 

MISS ANGELA GREENE'S CLASS, 1967

 

Donna CONSTANTINE Walsh has sent this lovely picture from 1967.  It is Miss Angela Greene's Grade 3 Class.  They all look so neat and smart in their green uniforms.

 

AREN'T THEY CUTE?

Donna was able to give us the names of some of the girls.  Donna said:

"These are the names I remember, maybe someone can fill in the rest.
Top row L-R: #6 Kathie Donnelly, #7 Madonna Hearn
Next Row L-R: #1 Sharon Power, #3 Charmaine Maher, #4 Donna Constantine, #6 Eileen Mullins, #8 Peggy Pennell,
Second Row L-R: Mrs Angela Greene, #4 Cathy Foley, #8 Veronica Pitcher
Front Row L-R: #1 Yvonne Cullen, #4 Darlene Thomas, #5 Cathy Walker, #6 ?Ursula Jarvis, #8 Bonnie Mullins, #9 Debbie ( died in a house fire later that year)"

Oh Donna, that is so tragic about that little Debbie.  It must have been so very sad for all of you.

Thanks for the photo and the information that you were able to give us.  As you said, perhaps someone can help fill in the missing names.  And Donna, keep the great pictures coming, please.

**Thanks to Kathie DONNELLY Johnson, Debbie THOMAS Mayer and Judy Ann, I have a few more names to add.  I am grateful for your help ladies.