March 2007 Mercian - Mercy High School

A publication of the Mercy High School Alumnae and Development Office 

The MERCIAN 

Vol. 31 No. 2 March 2007 

“The Next Generation” Is Born of “Generations of Excellence” 

Anyone visiting Mercy today will be impressed and inspired 

by the transformation of the entire school facility. “Generations 

of Excellence” capital campaign successfully raised nearly 

$7.2 million for renovation, but 

also greatly enhanced the Sister 

Mary Brendan O’Malley 

Endowment Fund for negotiated 

tuition. 

Credit for this amazing success 

goes to the Sisters of Mercy for 

their multi-million dollar 

investment in the endowment 

and to the tireless, sacrificial 

support of alumnae, parents, 

friends, students, faculty and 

staff. 

“Generations of Excellence” has given Mercy broad 

shoulders on which the school is proudly positioned to 

address the future, “The Next Generation.” This latest effort 

is merely an extension of the original campaign. Schools, 

like families, must plan to accomplish one goal after the next. 

That is the focus of this latest phase. 

The goal of “The Next Generation” campaign is to further 

secure Mercy’s mission by 

shoring up negotiated tuition, 

dedicating serious funds to the remuneration of its 

dedicated faculty, 

securing the future of instructional technology for its 

students and teachers. 

The immediate goal in this particular phase is to raise $1.1 

million dollars. Mercy High School is proud to launch “The 

Next Generation” with pledges and gifts totally nearly 

$775,000 from just 61 donors. The silent phase of this effort 

was initiated in April of 2006. Because so many of Mercy’s 

closest friends and supporters were still paying on their 

campaign pledges, a very small audience was approached. 

Now, just about nine months later, with just $325,000 to go, 

Mercy’s leadership decided to open this opportunity for 

supporting Mercy to all alumnae, parents, former parents, 

and dear friends. You will be hearing more about this 

campaign in the weeks and 

months ahead. 

Leading “The Next Generation” 

is businessman and Mercy High 

School board member, Mr. Larry 

Good, who reflected on the future 

of the school: 

“I am excited about the 

prospects this campaign brings 

for Mercy. The last one brought 

upgrades to the facilities and 

improved our overall financial position. Since then, 

enrollment has increased faster than expected and Mercy’s 

exposure in the community has elevated. This campaign 

can take Mercy to the next level and solidify our position in 

the community. With your continued generosity, we can 

continue to be the only private high school in the area that 

provides negotiated tuition so young women from all walks 

of life can afford and enjoy that great Mercy experience!” 

Special thanks go out to the leadership team that was 

instrumental in securing funds during the silent phase of the 

campaign. The leadership team consists of Sr. Johanna 

Burnell, Ingrid Kalinowski Borghoff ’65, Jane Green Alseth 

’65, Maurice Cox, Michael T. 

DeFreece, Robert and Mary 

Gonderinger, Mary Jewell, Lorray 

Smith ’67, and James E. Stewart 

(see photos on page 5). This 

latest effort, as was the original 

“Generations of Excellence” 

capital campaign, is guided by 

The Steier Group. 

Mr. Larry Good , Chairman of “The 

Next Generation” Campaign

2 

The President’s Reflections 

by Sr. Johanna Burnell, RSM 

Brother Robert Keeley is a Christian Brother with a 

doctorate in education who has spent his ministry in 

Catholic education and has authored more than a dozen 

books and articles on this subject. He writes: “Outside 

sacramental programs, Catholic schools have done more 

for evangelization than any other American Church 

institution. For more than 200 years, they have been the 

most effective means of helping youth grow in their faith. 

Catholic schools have been a great gift to the nation. They 

have educated millions and millions of students who 

became productive citizens intensely loyal to their country.” 

Personally, I agree wholeheartedly with him. 

Likewise, there has never been a time in the history of 

Catholic schools when the expense of attending 

outdistanced the income of the Faithful. Like health 

insurance, Catholic education is not automatically 

available to today’s Catholic family. In addition to 

commitment to the Faith, the desire to give one’s children 

the very best, the family must have enough disposable 

income to pay the price for today’s Catholic school. This 

reality raises some serious questions. Here are just a few: 

· Has Catholic education become education for the 

elite Faithful? 

· Has Catholic education become education for the 

elite? 

· Whose responsibility is it to pay for Catholic 

education? The family? The parish? The 

Archdiocese? The state? 

· Who should have access to our Catholic 

schools? 

· How does a family of Faith make this decision to 

put their children in Catholic schools? 

There are no simple answers for these questions and the 

many others that could be raised on this subject. But there 

are some strong beliefs that I would like to share with you. 

First, Catholic schools are the best agent the Church has for 

passing on the Faith and helping young people form 

consciences of moral conviction in line with Church 

teaching. Second, Catholic schools belong to the masses, 

not just to the elite. Thirdly, the cost of Catholic education is 

the responsibility of the entire Faithful, not just the parents of 

the students. 

At Baptism, we say that we are welcoming an infant, a 

person, into the Faith and we, as a congregation, promise 

to nurture and support those little individuals on their Faith 

journey. To nurture and support—are these mere words? 

No, I happen to think they are a commitment to pay the cost 

of nurturing and supporting the Faith development of our 

children. 

For the last eighteen years, Mercy High School has taken 

a courageous stand in the face of these issues. It is our 

commitment to the Church and to our Catholic families that 

we believe their daughters are deserving of a Catholic 

MERCY education. We instituted a unique tuition plan 

which we called Negotiated Tuition. It involves (1) a 

From the President 

personal consultation with each and every family annually, 

(2) a commitment on the part of every parent and every 

student to participate fully in endless fundraising activities, 

and (3) a complete disclosure of family finances in the form 

of income tax returns. This type of sharing constitutes an 

extremely high degree of trust between the administration 

of our school and the families who choose to allow their 

daughter to attend here. It is a trust that we regard as 

sacred and it is treated with the utmost confidentiality and 

care. 

Gratefully, the Sisters of Mercy have endorsed our mission 

in this regard and have contributed to our endowment to 

allow us to make the promise to our families that NO ONE 

who wants to attend school here will ever be turned away 

because of money. 

Historically, all Catholic schools have made an effort to 

make their services available to the poor. This is more 

easily and efficiently accomplished at the parish level. In 

the Catholic high schools, this has typically been 

accomplished through Financial Aid. These schools 

generously set aside an amount of money that is assigned 

to needy families on a case by case basis. 

There is an important distinction between Financial Aid, 

which the schools generously make available to anyone 

who asks for it, and Negotiated Tuition as it is practiced at 

Mercy High School. Financial Aid is a line item expense in 

most high school budgets. Most high schools can tell their 

constituents the exact percentage of their expense budget 

that is devoted to this line item. Negotiated Tuition takes 

approximately six lines of the expense budget and is never 

settled upon until each and every family has an individual 

tuition agreement. Then we know. At that point, Mercy is 

able to tell our constituents the annual cost of Negotiated 

Tuition as practiced at our school. 

In the last two years, some other Omaha Catholic high 

schools have adopted what they call ‘negotiated tuition;’ 

one even referred to it as “a bold new step!” I suppose 

something that is at least 18 years old in this Archdiocese 

can still be called new. Further, we agree that imitation is 

the most sincere form of flattery. We hope that this imitation 

of the real thing does not diminish in any way the beauty 

and strength of our mission and that the public is not misled 

by comparisons that do not match ‘apples to apples’. 

Negotiated Tuition is not Financial Aid. 

I suppose this is enough for this issue. I urge you to pray for 

Catholic education everywhere. And, I urge you to 

challenge your parishes and your schools, wherever they 

are, NOT to fall into a false elitism that has nothing to do 

with the mission of Catholic education.

Celebrating “The Good News in 

Catholic Education” 

Catholic Schools Week (CSW) falls during the first week 

of February—a time when our energy is focused on 

FIESTA—Mercy’s annual benefit dinner for negotiated 

tuition. However, as is the “tradition” at Mercy, some 

very nice traditions have sprung up around this national 

event made very special by our local observances. 

Katy Gregory with her dad, Dave 

The thrust of 

CSW is to 

celebrate our 

Catholic 

schools. We 

do that by 

special 

“appreciation” 

days. Mercy 

celebrates 

three: Parent 

Appreciation 

Day, Faculty 

Appreciation 

Day, and 

Student 

Appreciation 

Day. 

For the last 

several years, 

Parent 

Appreciation 

Day has been 

celebrated with 

a Mass, after 

which students 

are allowed to 

leave campus 

to have lunch 

with their 

parents. Since 

the opening of 

Our Lady of 

Mercy Chapel, 

two Masses 

are celebrated: 

Alex Liekhus with her dad, Russ 

one for the 

upper-class 

women and their parents and a second one for the 

under-class women and their parents. Over 400 were 

present for the junior/senior Mass celebrated by Fr. 

Larry Gillick, SJ. An hour and a half later, there were 

about 380 present as Fr. Tim Forget said Mass for 

the freshmen/sophomore girls and their parents. 

At the end of Mass, 

selected students 

gave testimonial 

talks honoring their 

parents and all the 

Mercy parents for 

their dedication to 

Catholic education. 

Senior Katy Gregory 

and Sophomore 

Alex Liekhus spoke 

at their respective 

Masses. Their 

dads, Dave Gregory 

and Russ Liekhus, 

also gave 

reflections on what it 

means to them to Freshman Jennifer Eischeid 

cantors at Mass 

have their daughters 

at Mercy. It was very 

moving for everyone present. 

Teacher Appreciation Day was noted by treats in the 

form of “survival kits” made up by the Student 

Council, who also provided a huge sheet cake for 

lunch one day. Many students took the time to write 

notes and letters of appreciation to their teachers. 

Most fun for everyone is Student Appreciation. Students 

are invited to enjoy a dress down day (jeans) and a 

complimentary pizza and salad lunch. But always the 

most fun is the surprise entertainment concocted by 

the faculty and administration. This year, there was a 

faculty talent show in the mode of American Idol and 

the mysterious disappearance of Ms. Carolyn 

Jaworski, principal. The whole school participated in 

an interactive game of Clue, until she was found! 

The American Idol Judges: Cathy Mousel as Randy Jackson, 

Cathy Kessler as Paula Abdul and Kristi Vavrina as Simon Cowell 

3

4 

Mercy High School led a Swingin’ Safari to raise funds 

for negotiated tuition. The annual celebration, held 

February 11, raised over $275,000 for negotiated 

tuition. 

The evening began with Mass in Our Lady of Mercy 

Chapel celebrated by Fr. James Gilg, Superintendent 

of the Omaha Catholic Schools and pastor of St. Mary 

Magdalene Parish. After Mass, guests had the 

opportunity to socialize, bid on silent auction items, gift 

baskets and gift certificates. 

Dinner was served at 7:00 p.m. in the Catherine 

McAuley Athletic Center. Student Council President, 

Clare Huerter ’07, spoke about the value of negotiated 

tuition and its impact on her Catholic education. “Mercy 

is a leader in the community with negotiated tuition,” 

Huerter said. “The Catholic education provides a solid 

foundation for all young women, empowering us as we 

move forward into the world, becoming leaders and 

making a difference.” 

This year’s corporate chair was Mike Dahir, Omaha 

State Bank. Mayor Mike Fahey was honorary chair 

and Frank and Jill Mihulka served as general chairs. 

First Lady Sally Ganem, a distinguished educator and 

wife of Governor Dave Heineman, greeted guests on 

the governor’s behalf. 

For the fourth year, John Glenn, father of Amanda ’07, 

served as emcee for the evening. John Temme led 

the live auction, which included over 35 items, including 

a Mercy High School Former Fiesta Chairs 

Scholarship, a Mercy graduation package, and a 

Carol Casey ’58, MHS board member; Nancy Thompson, Executive 

Director of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of the Midlands and MHS 

board member; Sr. Corrine Connelly, RSM ’58, President of Mercy’s 

board of directors 

framed sheet two-dollar 

bills signed by Warren 

Buffett and Bill Gates, and 

numerous vacation trips. 

Parent committees spent 

months preparing for the 

event, making sure all 

aspects were covered, 

from express check bank 

operations to auction 

items. There were 478 

silent auction items, 43 

super silent items and 137 

gift baskets. 

Mayor Mike Fahey 

The parent raffle winners were as follows: first place, 

Mike and Ann Franco Laughlin ’72, parents of 

Rosemary Laughlin ’08 (one year tuition); second 

place, Dan and Janet Kraft, parents of Michaela Kraft 

’07 and Mary Kraft ’09 (2007-2008 fees); and third place, 

Brad and Becky Mount, parents of Kayci Mount ’10 

($250 book voucher). 

A record 850 raffle tickets were sold and the $10,000 

grand prize raffle winner was Betsy Bender. Fred and 

Betsy have been the chairs for the silent auction 

committee for several years and are parents of Sarah 

’08 and Becky ’05. 

L to R: Joanne Stewart ‘72, Margie Stewart Hladik ’66, Susie 

Stewart Jacobs-Hagen ’79 and Liz Stewart Banset ’68 

The Mercy 

High Singers

Richard & Mary Pat 

Smola McCormick ’58 

Receive Cor Misericordiae Award 

Dick and Mary Pat Smola McCormick ’58 received 

the Cor Misericordiae award at Fiesta for epitomizing 

the Heart of Mercy through their outstanding support 

of, and involvement with, the communities where they 

have lived, especially Mercy High School. Catholic 

education, children in need, the arts and technology 

have been priorities among their many interests. 

During Mercy’s first capital campaign in 1989, they 

established the Smola-McCormick Scholarship 

awarded for achievement on the eighth grade 

placement test. Together they served as National 

Chairpersons of the Creighton University Campaign 

for Excellence in 1994-98. During this campaign, they 

established a scholarship at Creighton for Mercy High 

graduates. In September of 1999, Dick and Mary Pat 

were honored guests at the dedication of Mercy High 

Schools fine arts center, Franey Hall, where the 

McCormick Stage bears their name. 

“I am grateful for the Catholic education I received from 

Mercy High School, with the Sisters of Mercy, teachers 

and staff,” said Mary Pat. “Four values from my 

education at Mercy which have been constant 

throughout my life are parental guidance and 

sacrifices; hospitality/caring; challenge; and ability to 

make good choices. These values shaped my future.” 

Campaign Steering Committee Members 

We proudly present the 

leadership team for “The 

Next Generation” 

campaign for teachers 

salaries, technology, 

and tuition assistance. 

Jane Green Alseth ‘65 

Michael T. DeFreece 

Lorray Smith ‘67 

Mary and Bob Gonderinger 

Maurice E. Cox 

Mary Jewell 

James E. Stewart 

5

6 

Alumnae NEWS 

Theresa Dymak Ponec ’48 writes: “The following 

day after I graduated, I worked for Senator Sam Klaver 

for four years. Don was working for WOWT. Then we 

moved to California. We have been married for 57 

years. I’m so proud of my family; I wanted to share 

their success with you. My son, Dr. Donald Ponec is 

an interventional radiologist, diagnostic imaging. He 

is also the Chief of Staff at the Tri-City Hospital. His 

wife, Dr. Elizabeth Ponec, is a gynecologist. Their 

children, Ryan and Evan, are both accomplished 

pianists and have received academic scholarships. 

Ryan was awarded a four-year scholarship to the 

University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Robert 

Ponec is chief of medicine and gastroentologist and is 

in charge of the third floor of the Oregon Hospital. His 

wife, Dr. Lori Ponec, has a degree in genetic 

engineering. Their children, Steven and Andrew, are 

very talented instrumentally. Steven plays the 

saxophone for Salem College and Andrew plays the 

French cello for the symphony.” 

Bernice Kucirek Boutwell ’58 writes: “I have two 

adult children, Dr. Christine Boutwell, a neurologist, 

and Michael Boutwell, a driver for UPS. My husband is 

a professor at Missouri Western College in St. Joseph, 

Missouri. We love to go to dog shows all over the 

country with our three Irish Setters. I really enjoyed my 

time at Mercy. I just loved my teachers and made a lot 

of friends.” 

Joan Stoffel Sindelar ’59 writes: “We had a busy 

summer both socially and with work. We (my sister, 

Sharon Stoffel Chatterton ’60, my husband, Stan 

and I) went to the 50-year celebration at Mercy. 

Sharon did meet one of her classmates, Sr. Judy 

Pat Healy ’60. Stan had a good alfalfa crop this 

summer and the harvest of corn and beans was good 

too despite some rains 

that flattened our corn. 

Our small school, of 30 

students, will include 

kindergartners in January. 

We’re lucky to have a 

Catholic school here and 

we ask for your prayers 

that we continue to 

educate young minds. 

We’ve had three nieces 

Joan Stoffel Sindelar and 

Sharon Stoffel Chatterton 

get married, the latest one 

was Barb Stoffel 

Walsh’s ’65 daughter, 

Molly, to Chris Ennis. 

Molly practices law in Denver, Colorado, and her 

husband, Chris, is a banker. It was a lovely wedding 

and wonderful reception at the Oxford Hotel in 

downtown Denver. There were guests from the east 

coast and also from London England.” 

Amy Lazzaro Galyardt ’61 and her husband, 

Dennis, are both retired science teachers from 

Nebraska who moved to the Ozarks in Missouri in 

1995. “We fly fish and are actively involved in a ‘coed’ 

fly fishing club, ‘The North Arkansas Flyfishers,’ “ wrote 

Amy. “I also belong to a ‘women’s only’ fly fishing club, 

‘The Damsel Flyfishers.’ We have two children: Wes, a 

dentist in Fort Collins, Colorado and Ben, a 

chiropractor also in Fort Collins. We spend 3-4 months 

a year in Fort Collins enjoying our kids and grandkids.” 

Louise O’Connor ’62 writes: “I was married to 

Douglas A Sawatzki for 14 years. We had two children, 

David and Ann. My son, David, is a licensed civil 

engineer but has chosen a more artistic career in film 

making. He has premiered two films at the Dundee 

Theater in Omaha, Nebraska. My daughter, Ann, is 

pursuing a bachelor of arts in public relations at the 

University of Nebraska at Omaha and exhibits 

fantastic artistic abilities as a superior quilt maker. I’ve 

always lived in the Holy Cross/Cathedral area of 

Omaha and have traveled to New York, Washington, 

D.C., Ireland, Cancun, Texas, Hawaii, and most of the 

Western states. I have ten years with Qwest and plan 

on retiring in five years. I have stayed in touch with my 

high school friends, Maxine Thell Vinardi ’62 and 

Barbara Cumberland Sawatzki ’62. My Mercy 

memories include going to the gym after lunch to 

dance or just get the latest news on friends. Retreats 

allowed us the time to stop and reflect on who we were 

and who we wanted to be in our spiritual pursuits. 

Mercy’s all-girl environment gave me great female 

role models. The real world and that time didn’t reflect 

the opportunities that I knew could be mine, but I was 

able to pass the knowledge of consistent focus to 

attain goals on to my children.” 

Elizabeth (Betsy) Marshall Post ’64, writes: 

“Since graduation from Mercy I have attended one 

year of college at Kearney State, worked in the bank 

industry, married William in 1970 and was blessed to 

stay at home and raise our two sons. We became 

grandparents for the first time as our oldest, Bernie, 

and his wife, Julie, welcomed Tanner Jameson on 

June 12, 2005. We enjoy spoiling our grandson. Our 

younger son, Brad, works for the Denver Broncos in 

marketing. Prior to that, he worked for the Buffalo Bills. 

My husband retired from Roadway Express and we 

are enjoying doing nothing together. For our 35 th 

wedding anniversary, we took a trip to Hawaii. Brad 

treated us to Pro Bowl game tickets and many other 

activities in Hawaii.”

Marilyn Merrill Olivier ’67 writes: “We live Maine. I 

work for a local dentist as a certified dental assistant. 

My husband, Roger, works at the hospital in Sanford 

as the finance 

director. We 

have one 

grandson, 

Trent, who is 3 

years old. I’m 

fond of many 

Mercy 

memories, the 

assemblies, 

French classes 

and playing the 

accordion in 

Roger and Marilyn Merrill Olivier 

“Carousel” my 

senior year.” 

Marjorie Tyler Koraleski ’68 writes: “I have 

enjoyed 33 years of marriage to Bill and still have a 

passion for the employment agency business. In our 

early years, we have enjoyed visiting Europe, Tahiti 

and living in Hawaii for 15 years. Now I’m super happy 

to come home and enjoy the evenings with my 

husband and our 5-year-old Jack Russell terrier, 

Bobette Ann. I have so many favorite Mercy 

memories, but what still stays with me over the years 

would be the excellent education and discipline that 

led to the foundation of my career today.” 

Lynn Teeple DeRocco ’71 is employed by the 

University of California, San Francisco, working in the 

Cardiac Electrophysiology area. She enjoys the 

“Marin” lifestyle in Northern California and the beautiful 

area of the country. Prior to that she was employed by 

Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles for 15 years. 

Mary Overton ’73 writes “I have been married for 26 

years. I have three children, Christopher, age 24, 

married, with a daughter, Sophia Elizabeth, 18 months; 

Heather (Mercy graduate 2001), age 23, full-time 

student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha 

(UNO), graduating in August 2007, and also working 

full-time at UNO; Kayleigh (attended Mercy freshman 

year), student at Gross Catholic High School, 

graduating in May 2007. I have been with the 

University of Nebraska system for almost 30 years. My 

husband Mike is a manager in facilities management 

at University of Nebraska Medical Center. We love to 

travel, especially cruising the Caribbean. We treasure 

our family time and especially the time we have with 

our granddaughter, Sophia Elizabeth. My daughter, 

Heather, has epilepsy, so we founded the Epilepsy 

Support Group here in Omaha and it has been active 

now for 2 1/2 years. Heather also is an advocate for 

epilepsy, so speaks all over the United States at 

conferences and schools. If you are interested in 

having her speak, please e-mail me. I am very proud 

of her. My favorite Mercy memories were the friends I 

made and kept, especially my BEST friend Joan 

Jensen Wagner ’73 who has been my BEST friend 

for 43 years. Other Mercy memories of the dances, hot 

lunches, the great cookies made by Sister Rose, and 

my favorite teachers, Sr. Edith (deceased), Sue 

Hopkins Leahy, ’67, and Mr. James Rouse who not 

only was the principal at one time, but my English 

teacher. To these three wonderful teachers I say, 

“thank you”. Because of them, I am the person I am 

today. I love reading the Mercian to keep up-to-date 

with what’s going on especially with my former 

classmates who I would love to hear from. You can 

contact me by e-mail at epilepsy1983@yahoo.com.” 

Ann Devlin Kennedy ’96 currently works as a 

manager for Hitachi Consulting in Chicago. She and 

her husband, James, welcomed the arrival of their first 

son, James, on April 19, 2006. 

Amy Pickett Stevenson ’96 writes: “I am doing well. 

I live in the Chicago area, with my two children and my 

significant other, Shawn. We moved here last spring 

when he was relocated with work. I am in nursing 

school at Creighton University and will graduate May 

2007 with a bachelor of science in nursing. I am 

currently doing my preceptorship at the University of 

Loyola Medical Center here in Chicago. I work the 

overnight shift in the Labor and Delivery department. It 

is very exciting to be a part of such a special time for 

families. I love assisting in each delivery and feel truly 

blessed to be a part of such a wonderful moment in 

other people’s lives. My boys have gotten big. Avery 

is in 4th grade now and loves skate boarding. Ethan is 

in kindergarten and likes wrestling. They are the 

biggest blessings God could ever have given. We 

keep very busy as I am sure most people do.” 

Stephanie Rivera Vargas ’97 writes: “Felipe and I 

have four children: Andrea, 6; Marissa, 4; Diego, 2; and 

Antonio, 3 months old. They keep us very busy. I just 

started a new job at First National Bank and Felipe 

works in an auto body shop here in Omaha.” 

Liz Nowaczyk ’00 moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 

October 2006 with Sara Taylor ’00. They are living in 

an apartment in Scottsdale, where Liz is the regional 

marketing specialist for Qdoba Mexican Grill. Her 

duties include promoting and advertising the 

restaurant as well as bringing in business through 

catering. “Can’t beat Arizona weather during the 

winter,” she wrote. 

7

8 

Alumnae NEWS 

Jenny Webb ’01 writes: “I am currently attending 

Metro Community College to get my business degree. 

In 2002, my mom and I traveled to Europe for a 16-day 

trip. We went to many different countries including 

England, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, and 

Holland. It was the most amazing time of my life.” 

Molly Brennan ’02 graduated in December 2006 

from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a 

bachelors of arts degree in International Studies. 

Megan Edwards ’02 is a bilingual market 

coordinator in the network marketing division of a 

telecom company. In August of 2007, she will become 

a volunteer teacher in Ecuador. 

Rachel Latka Goldberg ’02 was married in August 

2006. She will be graduating from the University of 

Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in economics in May 

2007. 

Chelsea Horgan O’Larey ’02 is married and living 

in Northwest Indiana. Both she and her husband are 

engineers. They graduated from Notre Dame in the 

spring of 2006. 

Megan Sather ’02 is an interior designer at the 

architectural firm TVS in Chicago, Illinois and taking 

classes at Archeworks. 

Rose Brennan ’04 attended the University of 

Nebraska at Omaha for two years, and now attends at 

Clarkson College to earn a bachelor of science 

degree in nursing. 

Laura Forbes ’04 is majoring in theology and 

secondary education at the College of Saint Mary. 

She is a goal keeper for their soccer team. 

Amy Juliano ’04 writes: “I’m at the University of 

Nebraska at Omaha majoring in pre-medicine, but am 

considering a change to bio-psychology to expand 

my options. I have been enjoying the college 

experience as much as possible, as I have plenty of 

studying and working in my everyday schedule. I am 

not quite as involved in extra curricular activities as I 

was at Mercy, due to lack of time, but I certainly try. I 

cherish many of my Mercy experiences. As a studentathlete, 

I have many fond memories of playing 

basketball and soccer, doing statistics for volleyball, 

and being a student-athletic trainer. I miss the hard 

work (the blood, sweat, and tears), being in such great 

shape, and spending time with my teammates and 

coaches each and every day...through the good and 

the bad. I also miss my time in Concert Choir and 

Mercy High Singers. I especially remember taking 

first and second place in National Music Competition 

in Branson my junior year. I miss all of the Mercy 

traditions like Mercy Day, P.A., Welcome Picnic, 

Loddies at junior/senior lunch, Farewell Day, etc. Most 

of all I miss that every day, I walked into that building 

and knew everyone there and they knew me, which is 

a benefit of such a small school. I cherish all of my 

friends and teachers with whom I created such close 

bonds and am so grateful for all they did, because 

they truly made my four years of high school 

something I will NEVER forget.” 

Ashley Shrader ’04 is a junior at Rockhurst 

University in Kansas City, Missouri with double majors 

in communications and theology and minors in 

Catholic studies and theatre arts. 

Laura Bruce ’05 writes: “I’ve been going to school 

full time and working part-time at Metropolitan Utilities 

District and the German American Society. It’s fun, but 

it keeps me very busy. I did something that I’m quite 

proud of this summer. I skydived on my nineteenth 

birthday. I know, I’m a nut for jumping out of a perfectly 

good 

airplane, but 

there’s 

nothing like 

it. I want to 

become 

licensed, 

but I think 

studying 

Laura Bruce ‘05 

abroad 

comes first 

as far as 

monetary priorities...that and backpacking around 

Europe.” 

Cassandra Dorland ’06 started her second 

semester at Case Western Reserve University in 

Cleveland, Ohio, majoring in chemistry and technical 

theatre. 

Share Your Story With Other Mercy Alums 

Log on to the alumnae site 

www.mercyhigh.org/alumnae 

or e-mail your news to 

Mary Emmer, alumnae relations at 

emmerm@mercyhigh.org

Scholarship Memorials, Scholarships & Tuition Awards 

September 1, 2006-January 15, 2007 

Callone Family Tuition 

Award 

The Next Generation 

Major Gifts Campaign 

Pat Callone & Bill Flynn 

Carmelo & Rose 

Guastello Tuition 

Award 

Jo Marie Guastello 

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Guastello 

Mr. & Mrs. PJ Guastello 

Mr. & Mrs. Michael 

Sturgeon 

Carol Kastl Memorial 

Mathematics 

Scholarship 

In memory of Dr. Edward 

Beitenman 

Jo Kastl Henely 

In memory of Joseph 

Bizal 

Marj Kastl Krawczyk 

In memory of Richard 

Coyle 


In memory of Marie 

Hermanek Cripe 

Ms. Ruth Povondra 

In memory of Mary Clare 

Neuberger English 


In memory of Rose 

(Marie) Fibich 

Jim & Karol Krawczyk 

Carroll 


In memory of Ryan Furlow 


Carroll 

In memory of Patrick Finn 


In memory of Lee Fowler, 

Sr. 

Anonymous 

Mark & Sherryl Driscoll 

Frank & Sharon Fowler 

Brad & Andrea 

Heffelfinger 


Maureen Henely Miller 

Leo & Margaret Kastl 

Novak 

Pepsi-Cola of Tucson 

Virgil & Janice Setterlund 

Marie Hason Soula 

Kurt & Mary Wagner 

In memory of Ervin (Bud) 

Kouba 


In memory of Irene Kusek 


In memory of Donna 

Condon Mangan 


Carroll 

In memory of Hugh 

McGahan 


In memory of Larry 

Protaskey 


In memory of Dolores 

Clines Robino 


Carroll 

In memory of John Ruther 


In memory of Barbara 

Jean Smith 


Jim Slavin Tuition 

Award 

Mrs. Jeanette Slavin 

Mary Jane Smith Gerst 

Memorial Scholarship 

Mary F. Gayman 

In memory of Mary Lou 

Beal 

Larry & Helen Smith 

In memory of Theresa M. 

Greco 

Mr. & Mrs. Larry Smith 

In memory of Hugh 

McGahan 

Larry & Helen Smith 

Renae C. Von Tersch 

Art Scholarship 

Mrs. Betty Darrell 

El & Rita Wagner Pitt 

In memory of Theresa M. 

Greco 

Reid & Claire Von Tersch 

In lieu of Christmas gifts 

for Reid & Claire Von 

Tersch 

Keith & Rosemary Begley 

Weide 

Sr. Jeanne O’Rouke 

Cross Country 

Scholarship 

Anonymous 

Wendy O’Rourke 

Leadership Award 

Sr. Jeanne O’Rourke, 

RSM 

Music Department 

In memory of Lucille 

Lynam Warren, SJ ’38 

Patricia Ferrando 

Corporate, Matching, Designated & 

Gifts In Kind 

Corporate & Matching 

Gifts 

American Express Foundation 

Bank of the West 

Citigroup Foundation 

CSG Systems, Inc. 

First Data Western Union 

Foundation 

International Paper Company 

Foundation 

Lozier Foundation 

Pfizer Foundation Matching 

Gifts Program 

Security National Bank 

The Strott Family Foundation 

The UPS Foundation 

Union Pacific Railroad 

Corporation 

Wells Fargo Foundation 

Western Union Foundation 

Designated Gifts 

Engraved Paten for Our 

Lady of Mercy Chapel 

Class of 1961 

Faculty Compensation & 

Development 

Anonymous 

Reunion Gift 

Class of 1956 

Tuition Assistance 

Anonymous 

Barbara Fonfara Braak ’61 

OAEF Clifford J. Miller 

Charitable Trust 

Mr. James G. Skinner 

Tuition Assistance for Low 

Income Families 

Bank of the West 

Security National Bank 

Wells Fargo Foundation 

Tuition Assistance for Low 

Income Minority Families 

Lozier Foundation 

Gifts or Services In Kind 

Hewlett-Packard Custom 

Notebook 

Compaq Notebook 

MP 3320 Digital Projector 

HP Photosmart Camera/ 

Dock 

Hewlett-Packard Company 

9

10 

In Celebration 

Weddings 

’97 Beth Kwiatek & Chad O’Brien 

September 23, 2006 

’98 Jennifer Harre & Brian O’Neill 

November 25, 2006 

Anniversaries 

65 th 

William & Maureen Bovick 

September 28 

Parents of: Janeen Bovick 

Moynihan ’73, Anita Bovick Wiedel 

’75 

Salvatore & Marianne Cosentino 

October 2 

Parents of: Connie Cosentino ’65, 

Carmella Cosentino ’70 

61 st 

Leslie & Elsie Hubrecht Irvine, SM 

’42 

February 14 

Parents of: Mary Beth Irvine ’65, 

Ginger Irvine Bognich ’66 

Grandparents of: Jennifer Bognich 

’03, Leslie Irvine ’03, Nicole Irvine 

’05 

50 th 

Clint & Carol Roh Dorwart, SM ’53 

December 29 

45 th 

William & Marcella Czerwinski 

Dunbar ’59 

January 27 

40 th 

John & JoAnn Herdzina Bozak ’63 

February 4 

Keith & Rosemary Begley Weide, 

SJ ’53 

October 22 

Births 

Boys 

’93 Nick & Stephanie Finazzo 

Skradski 

(Grant Nicholas, December 27, 

2006) 

’94 John & Katie Connelly Carroll 

(Brendan Thomas, January 6, 

2007) 

’96 Phil & Nicole Krayneski James 

(Truman Anton & Elias Freestone, 

August 29, 2006) 

’96 Brian & Kelli O’Donnell Swift 

(Christian Ean Daniel Swift, 

February 21, 2006) 

’96 James & Ann Devlin Kennedy 

(James George, April 19, 2006) 

’98 Kevin & Josah Driml Powers 

(James Steven, July 10, 2006) 

’00 David & Angela Burton Vogel 

(Ignatius Anthony, September 11, 

2006) 

’04 Megan Siebrandt 

(Logan Matthew, October 2, 2006) 

’05 Mary Rooney 

(Aiden James, August 29, 2006) 

Chad and Beth Kwiatek O’Brien 

Girls 

’95 Seth & Katie Nowaczyk 

McClain (Jenna Mary, September 

21, 2006) 

’96 Michael & Angela DeMarco 

Liese (Elizabeth “Ellie” Grace, July 

28, 2006) 

’97 Michael & Maggie McGrath 

Wittland (Madalyn Rose, October 

6, 2006) 

John and Katie Connelly Carroll with 

sons, Brendan and Jack 

Truman and Elias James 

Faculty and staff from Mercy celebrate the wedding of Jennifer Harre ’98 to Brian 

O’Neill. From left to right: Julie Vankat, Sandy Taylor, Kristi Walters Wessling ’88, 

Jennifer Harre O’Neill ’98, Pat Hinkle, Kathy Redding, Cathy Kessler, Heather 

Newville and Ruth Grosse Harre ’76 (mother of the bride and Mercy High School 

secretary).

Christian Swift 

Ann Devlin Kennedy with son James 

James Powers 

Ignatius Vogel Maggie and Jenna McClain 

Megan 

Siebrandt with 

son Logan 

Mary Rooney 

with son 

Aiden 

Interested in Giving a Year of Service to the 

Church in the United States as a LAY VOLUNTEER? 

MERCY VOLUNTEERS CORPS, a lay volunteer program for women and 

men sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, provides opportunities for 

people over the age of 21 to give a year of service, community and 

prayer. Volunteer opportunities include teaching or nursing on Indian 

reservations or inner cities, working in homeless shelters, social service 

agencies, clinics, etc. This is a unique opportunity for those who wish to 

have an experience ministering to the needy at any stage in their life. 

Room, board, medical insurance and a small stipend are provided. Loan 

deferments are available. 

For more information contact Sheila Devereux, RSM at (415) 751-9574 or 

dev2er7eux@aol.com 

Michael and Angela Liese with daughter 

Ellie 

Madalyn Rose McGrath 

Alumnae Enjoy 

Sleeping Beauty 

Approximately 200 alumnae 

and guests attended the 

dress rehearsal performance 

of Sleeping Beauty, the 

musical, at Alumnae 

Appreciation Night in October. 

During intermission, alumnae 

enjoyed refreshments of hot 

cider and coffee, and hors 

d’oeuvres catered by Sgt. 

Peffer’s. 

11

12 

AlumLINES....another chapter in the story of our alums 

Moving to Life’s Music 

At an early age, Patricia “Patti” Ann Mokry 

Starwyck, SJ ’40 acquired a passion for music and 

the piano which has been a constant in her life. Born 

and raised in a musical family, she devoted many 

hours to singing and practicing the piano. When they 

were just 8 and 10 years old, Patti and her sister, Joan 

Rita Morky Herman, SJ ’42, were featured on WOWT 

radio singing live duets and playing piano duets. 

PATTI ANN 

MOKRY STARWYCK, 

SJ ’40 

Starwyck’s love for 

all things musical 

continued 

throughout her high 

school years, and 

at St. John’s, she 

acquired 

additional lifetime 

skills and lifelong 

friendships. “My 

parents chose St. John, for which I am grateful,” she 

said. “I loved the brown and tan uniforms. St. John’s 

gave me the necessary education and enthusiasm 

needed to pursue a professional and family life.” 

After graduation, Starwyck pursued a musical 

profession. At age 16, she was hired at local churches 

and roller skating rinks to play the organ. “In those 

days, it was important to know how to keep time and 

rhythm to the popular ‘40s and ‘50s songs,” said 

Starwyck. At the rink she met her first husband who was 

also a performer. They traveled considerably in the 

northern states and in Missouri and Texas, where they 

performed musically for various groups. 

Some of Starwyck’s most memorable and rewarding 

assignments and performances included being 

musical director for the stage production of Cole 

Porter’s “Can Can;” and accompanying Connie Haines, 

a big swing band entertainer, the Dukes of Dixieland, 

and the late opera star, Robert Merrill. While Starwyck 

was performing at the Fontenelle Hotel in Omaha, the 

late world-famous Danish entertainer,Victor Borge, 

listened to her play. Both Robert Merrill and Victor 

Borge were very complimentary of Patti’s extensive 

musical talent. She was delighted when Mr. Merrill 

complimented her as one of the best piano 

accompanists he had ever had. 

After fifteen years, Starwyck’s first husband passed 

away, leaving her with four young girls to raise. For the 

next thirteen years, Starwyck worked at Strategic Air 

Command in the officer’s club, which seated 2,000 

people, playing the Hammond organ and piano. “It 

was this steady job which helped keep food on the 

table and a 

roof over 

our heads,” 

said 

Starwyck. “I 

knew I had 

to work 

hard and 

keep 

steady 

employment 

to take care 

of my girls.” 

Later, she 

met and 

married 

Stephen 

Starwyck. 

At the time, 

he was an 

Officer in the Navy, headquartered in Fort Omaha. He 

was a Navy Captain for 30 years. When Stephen 

retired from the Navy, they relocated to Florida, near 

Tampa Bay. 

Starwyck’s musical career has brought her much joy 

and success. Her business card reads “Sparkling 

Music for All Occasions” through which she marketed 

her singing and musical talents. Starwyck has this 

advice for career musicians: “Anyone interested in the 

music profession should begin developing their talent 

at an early age, consult a teacher and practice, 

practice, practice. Know the business you plan to 

enter, familiarize yourself with the area where you will 

work, and make your business known to prospective 

entertainment interests.” 

She continues to work as a musician, performing at 

birthday and anniversary celebrations as well as 

church on Sundays. Starwyck works with an orchestra 

leader based in New York. She and Stephen have 

been married for 40 years and have five grandchildren. 

Starwyck’s success with balancing her professional 

and family life clearly show that she is moving to life’s 

music.

Successful Business Owner 

Values Education 

Leticia Barajas ’78, the daughter of Mexican 

parents, grew up in a bilingual, bicultural home where 

education was strongly valued. Her father always 

stressed the importance of a good education and 

wanted more for his children than the 3rd grade 

education he received in his native Mexico. He came 

to the United States 

with a dream that 

he would start a 

LETICIA BARAJAS ’78 

business, marry, 

have a family, and 

provide all his 

children a college education. With each child born, her 

father would start saving for their college education. 

“My parents knew that a strong high school program 

would lay the foundation for success in college,” said 

Barajas. “I searched my options and decided that 

Mercy had a strong college prep program that 

supported my goal for attending college.” 

“Mercy provided me with a strong foundation for what I 

do today — the four years of Spanish and required 

English prepared me to become knowledgeable in 

both languages and later linguistics, knowledge that is 

central to my business today. Debate developed 

strong speaking skills and the ability to analyze and 

take a position on an issue; and music, chorus and 

private piano lessons helped to cultivate the selfdiscipline, 

poise and confidence needed as a 

business owner,” Barajas said. 

Barajas attended the University of Nebraska where 

she received a bachelors of science degree in 

business administration with specialization in 

marketing. She took advanced level coursework in 

Spanish, international business and international 

relations. She has also taken training to become an 

instructor of medical, legal and community interpreting. 

In 1994, Barajas started her business, Connections 

Around the World, L.L.C., because she felt a strong 

calling to “restore wholeness” to the world by finding 

solutions through language and culture to barriers in 

business and community. “I felt like I had acquired a 

solid knowledge base, insights in how language 

affects business and service delivery and a good 

education, which brings an inner certainty to walking a 

challenging path in business and in life,” Barajas said. 

Connections Around the World, L.L.C. provides 

training and consulting to support businesses and 

organizations who serve, or would like to engage, 

Latinos and other diverse groups. 

Barajas has 

designed and 

presented an 

occupational 

Spanish course for 

business and 

service 

professionals. She 

has trained over 

2,000 professionals 

in Nebraska, Iowa 

and Missouri to 

manage basic, 

important 

conversations in 

Spanish with their 

customers. “The 

highlight of this work 

is that, while there are many Spanish courses 

available, feedback from participants is that the 

unique design of my course makes it more effective 

than other popular courses,” Barajas said. “The 

clients say, “it is fun, doable and you really can use it 

right away to communicate with customers.” Many 

report they can now build relationships with new 

customers they couldn’t reach before. 

The University of Nebraska at Omaha College of 

Business Administration recognized Barajas as one 

of three alumni success stories in 2005. 

Barajas is an active member in the Omaha 

metropolitan area. She is affiliated with the Hispanic 

Chamber of Commerce of Nebraska, the Greater 

Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and the Midwest 

Chapter of the American Translators Association to 

name a few. Barajas is a member of the Omaha 

Public Schools’ Diversity Advisory Committee and 

United Way – Quality Standards Review Team. She 

previously served as a board member of PRIDE 

Omaha, Girl Scouts, and on the Omaha Human 

Relations Board. 

In her spare time, Barajas enjoys gardening, 

remodeling, and any activity in which she can involve 

her German Shepherd, Ivan. 

13

14 

AlumLINES....another chapter in the story of our alums 

Living the Works of Mercy 

As a small child, Sister Stella Neill, RSM ’60 

witnessed the works of Mercy. She and her siblings 

were cared for by the Sisters of Mercy at St. James 

Orphanage. The Sisters provided a safe, secure 

living environment for all the children. “I knew the 

Sisters of Mercy from my grade school at Holy Cross 

and Mercy High School. I wanted to become a social 

worker and the 

Sisters of Mercy 

SISTER STELLA NEILL, 

RSM ’60 

were one of the 

only religious 

communities that 

did social work,” 

Neill said. 

During her high school years at Mercy, Sister Stella 

witnessed the spirit of Mercy. “Mercy gave me a very 

good academic education with a very solid 

foundation in literature and the arts,” Neill said. Her 

aunt, Sister M. David Kean, RSM, MSM ’19 taught her 

Latin for two years, as well as algebra, geometry and 

biology. Some of Neill’s favorite memories at Mercy 

included hanging around with the teachers after 

school. 

After graduating in 1960, Neill joined the Sisters of 

Mercy community. She attended the College of St. 

Mary where she graduated with a bachelor of science 

degree in elementary education. She continued on 

the education track and received a masters degree in 

social work from the University of Nebraska at 

Omaha. Neill took her final vows as a Sister of Mercy 

in August of 1968. 

Fullfilling a need in Southeast Omaha, Neill became 

the director of the McAuley Center. The McAuley 

Center was established in 1972 in response to the 

people of Southeast Omaha and their needs. “Sister 

Rosemary Ronk and I began the process of 

researching the needs of the area and began the 

outreach center for elderly people living in their 

homes,” said Neill. During the six years Neill was 

director, she and the Sisters developed transportation 

services, home visits, senior tours, hot meals for 

seniors and an adult day center. Many of the Sisters 

of Mercy worked along with the School Sisters of Saint 

Francis. 

Responding to another need in 1987, Sister Stella 

Neill and a group of people in Des Moines, Iowa 

embraced the works of Mercy. They were concerned 

about homeless families and inadequate shelters for 

them. “From my own family struggles, I had a deeper 

understanding of the need for children to have a safe, 

secure, living environment, ” said Neill. The group 

realized the need for affordable housing and not just 

temporary shelters. From this group, Anawim Housing 

was founded. Sister Stella has served as the 

executive director since Anawim Housing’s inception. 

Anawim Housing’s mission is to provide safe, 

affordable housing which assists in the stabilization of 

low income families and the revitalization of the Des 

Moines metropolitan neighborhoods. 

Anawim Housing is both a business and a nonprofit 

organization. “We began with $5,000 with which we 

purchased three 

vacant buildings 

and two vacant lots,” 

Neill said. “Now we 

have an annual 

budget of about $1.5 

million. The newest 

project includes a 

$6.1 million 

purchase and 

renovation of 67 

homes in south Des 

Moines, Iowa.” 

Over the last sixteen 

years, Anawim has 

developed about 

150 rental housing 

units. Through those efforts, the organization has 

invested over $11 million in a mid-city neighborhood 

and has played a key role in the rivalization of one of 

the city’s most blighted areas. But Anawim is much 

more than new windows and siding or building of a 

new home. “We seek out people in need and help 

them improve their lives. Through our caring property 

management, we give families – more than half of 

them one-parent families – a chance to regroup, to 

stabilize, and put down roots,” said Neill. 

Neill enjoys the partnerships that she has been able 

to establish with government officials, corporate 

executives and the families in the neighborhoods. 

She is a member of the Community Housing 

Development Corporation Board, Sisters of Mercy 

Regional Leadership Team, Polk County Housing 

Trust Fund Board and the Hispanic Ourtreach and 

Legal Assistance Center Board. 

Sister Stella embodies the mission of the Sisters of 

Mercy. She has witnessed the spirit of Mercy, 

answered the call to serve others in need and 

passionately lives the works of Mercy.

A Disney World Adventure 

Everyone dreams of an adventure to Disney 

World…where the magic begins. Nicole Rapier ’03 

is on such an adventure. 

It all began with the education Rapier received at 

Mercy High 

School. “Mercy 

taught me to find 

myself and believe 

that who I was truly 

meant something,” Rapier said. “I learned many 

valuable lessons from my teachers.” 

NICOLE RAPIER ’03 

“Ms. Davies helped me to realize that I love other 

cultures and that I love my religion. She taught me that 

it was okay to be both independent and a woman. Mr. 

Max Engel was finally able to help me write a paper, 

to realize that I love to write, and that having patience 

is one of the most important skills I could ever master. 

Ms. Losee taught me how to present my hard work 

and take credit for it. Ms. Jaworski and Ms. McCoy 

both gave me more than my share of chances. They 

were the reason I was able to graduate high school,” 

Rapier said. 

Rapier went off to Mount Marty College in Yankton, 

South Dakota. She pursued her love for service work 

while at college. She was co-leader of “Life on the 

Road” where the group learned about how real life 

issues are portrayed in almost every movie; the coleader 

in Raising ADAM (Awareness of Diversity and 

Multi-culturism); a Yahoo core team leader (a retreat 

team that goes to different high schools and helps the 

students find God in their lives); and the co-leader and 

founder of Club RIOTS (Religious Impact on Today’s 

Society) where she investigated many types of 

religions. 

Rapier enjoyed the small college community, 

especially the closeness of the faculty/staff to the 

students. Faculty members helped Rapier research 

and find an internship which would align with her 

degree in selected studies with an emphasis in 

technical theatre. She applied online for “Costuming 

at The Show Must Go On,” an internship section of 

Disney World’s MGM Studios. Rapier attended a 

presentation and was interviewed for the internship. 

Out of 20,000 students that applied, Rapier was one of 

only 2,600 selected. 

In early January, Rapier moved from small town 

Yankton, South Dakota to the big city, Orlando, 

Florida to begin her internship. “The first weeks of the 

internship have been crazy,” Rapier said, “I have 

been training in the Costumes section where only 

secured people can see the characters.” She will be 

“behind-the-scenes”, working with the costumes, 

repairing, laundering, organizing, and transporting 

them. Rapier will also be taking an Entertainment 

class where she will learn the “behind-the-scenes” 

action for productions put on at Disney. She has met 

the Disney characters: Power Rangers, Tigger, Pooh, 

The Incredibles, Darth Vader, Woody, Buzz, Jo Jo 

and Golaith and many, many more. 

Rapier will wrap up the internship, returning to Mount 

Marty College for graduation in May, only to begin 

another adventure. If Disney offers her a position after 

the internship, she will stay in Florida and attend 

graduate school. Otherwise, she will pursue a 

graduate degree back in the Midwest. Rapier would 

also like to work for Disney’s new Mediterranean 

cruise line. 

Rapier is on her way to making her dream of directing 

movies come true…one adventure at a time. 

Nicole Rapier and Sulley from Monsters Inc. 

15

16 

Reunion Notes 

Class of 1952 

The hint of winter on October 18 th didn’t deter St. Mary 

High School’s class of 1952 from attending their 

annual luncheon at Gorat’s. Fourteen hardy alums 

enjoyed lunch and conversation and shared photos 

from last year’s gathering. Thanks to the calling 

committee: Shirley Carter Andrews, Margaret Ann 

Buckley Fouts, Mary Jo Havlicek, Marj Kastl Krawczyk, 

Barbara Zuerlein Lawrence, Pat Runa Potter, and Mimi 

Targy. Plans were made to do it all over again on 

October 18, 2007 at Gorat’s. 

Members of the class of 1961 

Class of 1956 

The class of 1956 celebrated their 50th reunion on 

Friday, October 6, with a girls night at the home of Judy 

Suing Harvey. On Saturday, October 7, 2006 the class 

enjoyed a sit-down dinner and social dance at the DC 

Centre. The Class of 1956 was inducted into the 

Golden Guild on Sunday, October 8. 

Class of 1956 

Row 1: Margaret 

O’Leary, Sugar Traynor 

Smith, Betty Roubal 

Blaylock, Marilyn Britten 

Miller, Marge Hopkins 

Macaitis, Mary Denham 

Liebentritt, Donna Bock 

Duke, Marilyn Holle, 

JoAnn Schmitz Suing, 

Judy Abboud Doukas, 

JoAnn Calabretto 

Sapienza, Rosemarie 

Franks Moore, Theresa 

Doll Gotch, Judy Suing 

Harvey 

Row 2: Annette 

Tomcykowski Schmitz, 

Patty Murphy McGonigal, 

Judy Rieser Kostal, Mary LaGreca Hannon, Pat Sopinski Smith, Mary Kay Sullivan Klein, Mary Ann Dulacki Brader, Karol Smith Kubat, Joan 

Staskiewicz Belitz, Carol Smola Dargy, Darlene Rayer Wehner, Kay Smith Thull, Margaret Beber Keary, Darlene Stangl Sullivan, Gerrie 

McCafferty Zimmerman, Sonja Lebo Turner 

Row 3: Virginia O’Leary Kurzak, Janice Seitz Bentle, Pat Gauer Hosking, Kathleen Parks Gau, Kathleen Kisicki Cook, Donna Novotny 

Emick, Kathleen Rynaski Caldwell, Bev Stahurski White, Josephine (Jo) Marcuzzo Macaitis, Angela Spenceri Brewster, Judy Bosiljevac 

Harden, Fran Scalora Berger, Barb Seward McCoy, Pat Zauner Paulsen, Barbara Hodik, Joyce Herbert Stander 

Row 4: Alice Olson Rischling, Judy Hughes Conrad, Virginia Kuzelka Budka, Dolores Barrientos Hernandez, Mary Kay Walsh Mayfield, 

Marianne Toberer Green, Peggy Crawford Kontor, Marlene Jansen Stewart, Patsy Leutenegger Brady 

Class of 1961 

The class of 1961 celebrated 

their 45th reunion in October 

with a tour of the school, 

prayer service in the Our 

Lady of Mercy Chapel 

and dinner at LaCasa 

Pizzaria. The class 

donated an 

engraved paten to 

Mercy. 

Class of 1998 

Hello, 1998 Graduates! The year 2008 is just around the corner, which means it has been almost 10 years since 

we have graduated. If you are interested in being a part of the reunion planning committee, please send an email 

to Ellen Vulje Bockelman at ebockelman80@hotmail.com — otherwise stayed tuned for reunion details.

Mercy’s Golden Guild Celebrates the Class of 1956 

Mercy’s Golden Guild was established to specially 

honor all of our fifty-year graduates. This tradition 

recognizes that our alumnae are one of our most 

valuable assets. They are a living testimonial to the 

value of a Mercy education. 

On Sunday, October 9 th , the class of 1956 was 

honored at the Golden Guild celebration. The 

celebration began with Mass in Our Lady of Mercy 

Chapel, a tour of the building and a brunch in the 

Dining Hall. 

In all, 65 alumnae from 1956 were present. Fifty years 

ago, these young women were the first to graduate 

from the “new” Mercy High School. They enjoyed 

reminiscing about Mercy memories and blessings 

they received from their Mercy education. 

In honor of all our 1956 Mercy graduates, a Golden 

Guild pin was given in recognition of their significance 

impressed into Mercy’s past, present and future. 

Next year, the Golden Guild will celebrate the Class of 

1957. 

Patsy Leutenegger Brady and Marlene Jansen 

Stewart 

Planning Your Reunion has Become 

Easier 

An All School Reunion weekend at Mercy is 

scheduled for September 21-23, 2007. Pre-planned 

activities such as Mass held in the renovated Our 

Lady of Mercy chapel, brunch reception and tour of 

your old alma mater will be organized by the 

Alumnae Office. You will merely need to ask yourself 

a few other questions: Will the reunion be a 

weekend-long event or a simple evening gettogether? 

Do you want to create a memorial booklet 

updating everyone’s lives? 

Mary Ann Dulacki Brader and Peggy Crawford Kontor 

Pat Sopinski Smith and Fran Scalora Berger 

Mercy High School will do whatever it can to help 

you in planning your reunion. Please contact Mary 

Emmer, alumnae relations coordinator, at 402-553- 

9424 or emmerm@mercyhigh.org to obtain a current 

class list or more information about how Mercy can 

help you plan your reunion. 

Reunions Scheduled 

Class Date Contact 

1957 9/21-23/07 Mary Connelly Harrington at 

(402) 551-8709 

1987 7/13-15/07 Chris Daley Gollobit at (402) 478- 5195 or 

cdaley1213@yahoo.com 

1997 TBD Karisa Robino Riesselman at 

kjriessel@cox.net 

1998 TBD Ellen Vulje Bockelman at 

ebockelman80@hotmail.com 

17

18 

Spotlight on Mercy 

Mercy Girls Learn About Robotics 

Mercy’s Robotics Club won the Think Award at the 

Midwest Regional Robotics Competition on February 

24 at Mount Michael Benedictine High School. The 

Think Award was given to the group for how they 

handled those interesting moments when things were 

not going as planned. Mercy’s team was the ONLY 

“girl” team in the competition and defeated 15 teams 

from the Midwest including teams from Colorado, 

Illinois, Kansas, and Nebraska. The students learned 

about the engineering process, including working as a 

team, documentation of progress and setbacks and 

revisions, and simple computer programming, as well 

as basic physics principles such as applications of 

gears and levers and motors. The team will compete 

in the National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia on April 

12, 13, & 14. 

Pictured: (kneeling in the back are:Mr. Phillip Hernandez (Alyssa’s 

dad) who has served as an engineering mentor for the team and 

Maureen Davis (teacher and team coach). Team members (left to 

right ) Liz Kinzer, Mandy Homan, Susan Davis, Anna Berg, Sarah 

Veys, Amanda Wiese and Alyssa Hernandez. 

Macbeth Nominated for Best High School 

Performance 

Congratulations to Director Angela Dashner and the 

spring 2006 cast of Macbeth which was nominated for 

the Best High School Performance by the Omaha 

Entertainment Awards. Mercy was the only Catholic 

high school nominated for this award. The cast 

performed five minutes of the play during the award 

ceremony on Thursday, January 4 at the Holland 

Performing Arts Center. The ceremony was aired on 

WOWT Channel 6. 

At District, Mercy’s One Act…And Stuff received a 

superior recognition. The following students received 

Outstanding Actress Awards: Clare Huerter, Carolyn 

Sobczyk, and Caitlin Botsios. 

Mercy Students Receive Awards at the 

International Thespian Honor Society 

Mercy students received the following awards at the 

International Thespian Honor Society state convention 

held in January. The Improv Team (Captain Caitlin 

Botsios, Marlowe Mapes, Chelsea Stolinski, Emily 

Frevert, Megan O’Hara, Rosie Laughlin) took 3rd in 

the state, out of 21 teams. For the school display 

award, Mercy won first place for school spirit. Students 

award for outstanding performance in Improv were 

Chelsea Stolinski, Caitlin Botsios, and Marlowe 

Mapes. Emily Goetzinger was awarded for Superior in 

Scene Design. Andrea Dunn received the Excellent in 

Solo Musical award. Marlowe Mapes and Caitlin 

Botsios received Excellent in Monologue award. For 

due acting, Lauren Swadener and Rosie Laughlin, 

Abby Deats and Elizabeth Dunn received the 

Excellent in Duet Acting award. 

International Thespian Honor Society 

Induction 

The International Thespian Honor Society inducted 

the following students on February 4: Emily Sissala, 

Lisa Kmiecik, Brenna Reynolds, Marlowe Mapes, 

Kathryn Wright, Andrea Sobczyk, Katie Aiello, Anna 

Berg, Liz Conneally, Katie James, Monica Pflug. 

Seniors Receive National Merit Awards 

Mercy is proud to announce that senior Molly 

Dougherty and Malinda Frevert have been recognized 

as “Commended Scholars” by the National Merit 

Corporation. 

This places 

the girls in the 

top 5% of the 

million plus 

students 

nationwide 

who took the 

PSAT test 

last year. 

L to R: Molly Dougherty and Malinda 

Frevert

Induction of National Honor Society 

Members 

Congratulations to the newest members of the National 

Honor Society who were inducted on November 14: 

Maddie Emsick, Elizabeth Ferrante, Kristina 

Gentleman, Julia Krolikowski, Rosie Laughlin, Mel 

Murnan, Brittny Murphy, Becky Slater, Emily Veys, 

Sarah Wees, Caity Wessling and Brittany Willmore. 

Mercy High School teams up with Alegent 

Health in Sportmetrics Program 

Twenty-four soccer athletes from Mercy High School 

will take part in a six-week Sportsmetrics training 

program offered by Alegent Health. Sportsmetrics is 

a scientifically proven, six-week jump training program 

that incorporates proper stretching, special plyometric 

exercises, speed and agility training and strength 

training. This program is scientifically proven to 

decrease serious knee ligament injuries in female 

athletes. Alegent Health trainers will work with the 

females on their speed and agility three days a week 

for an hour-and-one-half. On alternating days, the girls 

will do 30 minutes of strength training. The Alegent 

Health Sports Medicine Program decided to partner 

with Mercy due to the school’s size, quality and 

dedication to quality student athletic programs. 

Students Raise Food and Funds for Operation 

Others 

Mercy’s student representatives, in a special joint 

effort of Omaha Catholic high school students, raised 

money for food for the poor to create Christmas 

baskets. They came up 

with a creative idea. 

They transformed the old 

penny war concept into a 

“cans of food” war! 

Nearly 9,000 cans of 

green beans and corn 

were donated by our 

students for the poor. 

The war was won by the 

Junior Class who was 

rewarded with a half day 

L to R: Emily Brennan, Maddie 

Emsick, Kristina Gentleman and 

Elizabeth Garcia 

off on the last of school 

before Thanksgiving. 

Emily Veys Wins State 

Contest 

Emily Veys ’08 won first place in the 

“Voice of Democracy” contest for 

the State of Nebraska sponsored 

by the Veterans of Foreign Wars 

(VFW). She was awarded $1,000 

Emily Veys 

savings bond and will advance to 

the national competition where she 

will compete for a trip and a $25,000 prize. 

Mercy Students Awarded Scholarships 

Lauren Swadener ’07 and Symone Sanders ’08 have 

each been awarded $15,000 Girls Inc. National 

Scholarships. The scholarships were awarded based 

on essays, application and letters of references. 

Lauren Swadener 

Symone Sanders 

Basketball Season Ends with Recognition and 

New School Records 

The basketball team season ended with a nine game 

winning streak and finished 13-9. At Districts, the team 

was runner up after losing to Gretna in the 

championship game. The basketball team was led by 

seniors Molly Dougherty, Bri Boner, Emily Lien, Erin 

Daisley, and Sam Engelkamp. 

The team participated in the St. Pius X Holiday Classic 

Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia in December, where 

Bri Boner was named to the All-Tournament team. 

Emily Lein was honored by KPTM Fox 42 News/Runs 

as Scholar Athlete of the Week. Emily received a 

$500 scholarship for her hard work on and off the court. 

Molly Dougherty set a new school record for assists in 

basketball, with 135. Bri Boner sent a new school 

record for blocks in basketball, with 75. 

19

20 

Memorials 

The following have been entered into our Memorial Association from September 1, 2006 - January 15, 2007 

Bill Amdor 

Bob Amdor 

Steve Amdor 

Mary Jane Amdor Cartmill 

Nancy R. Enis 

Edward & Norah Hanlon 

Alfred & Patricia Menghini 

Fred & Betty Mossman 

Richard J. O’Meara 

Betty A. Villadsen Quinn 

Jill Tomson 

Mary Devlin Yoest 

Ardelle Andersen 

Carolyn Jaworski 

Charles “Dan” Barry 

Maureen Miller 

Timothy J. Bauer 

Mary Lois Bauer Williams 

Dr. Edward Beitenman 

Les & Kathleen McKenna 

Horton 

Joseph Benson 

Joan M. Bader 

George Cagni 

Mrs. Theresa Ganapini 

Yano Caniglia 

Joseph G. Guziec III 

Ligeia Gallagher Cannon 

Kate Tarsney 

Jennie Ciani 

Mrs. Terri Ganapini 

Theresa Connelly 

Amy L. Longo 

Joe & Jean Ward Nekola 

Marie Hermanek Cripe 

Mr. Joseph Hermanek 

Deceased Daneu Family 

Stacie Haneline 

Mary C. Neuberger 

English, SM ’52 

Luke & Shirley Seewald 

Coniglio 

Alice Mokry Fletcher, SJ 

’36 

Patricia A. Mokry Starwyck 

Reno Ganapini 

LeRoy Albrecht 

Warren & Geri Anderson 

Bill & Sandy Baker 

Michelle Bizzarri 

Dr. B. C. & Mrs. Sally Burns 

Jim & Edie Harvat Caniglia 

Dorothy A. Catalano 

Kay Zagurski Champion 

Eugene & Mary Ciani 

Carl & Ann Clanton 

Creighton OB Gyn Women’s 

Health 

Mr. & Mrs. John De Pellegrin & 

Marila 

Loyal & Marlene Noonan Drey 

Cindy Eaton 

Don & Helene Ficenec 

Mary Ann Cunningham Filippi 

Elecia Fine 

Joe & Josephine Gaeta 

Jane Gilson 

Mr. & Mrs. Jack Griffey 

Mike Hanson 

Bill & Virginia Hardy 

Andrew & Sally Shirley 

Hausman 

Ernie & Jeanne Hopkins 

Leonard Jarecki 

Carolyn Jaworski 

Mr. & Mrs. W. James Jensen 

Barbara M. Kruger 

Susan Land 

Bud & Carmel Langenfeld 

John & Nancy Langenfeld 

Mike & Phyllis Langenfeld 

Bill & Bette Latka 

Mary K. Lincoln 

Mary Jo Lockart 

Betty Louk 

Jean Marasco 

Tange & Jinx Marcuccio 

Carmen Massara 

Holly McCoy 

Raymond & Roberta 

McDermott 

Sheila McGill 

Dorothy Meisenbach 

Steve & Linda Meisenbach 

Angelo & Linda Micheletto 

Alice Ferry Muecke 

Tom & Jeanne Nabity 

Claire J. New, Jr. 

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Norris 

James P. O’Brien 

Frank & Margaret Parks 

Mr. & Mrs. Ben H. Patterson 

Kathy Kilo Peterson 

Bob Rasmussen 

Jim Rasmussen 

Louise Saltzman 

Sam Sambasile 

Barbara Schaffer 

Bobby Sue Schramm 

Mary Sekera 

Margaret & Michael Shannon 

Agnes Melia Shoemaker 

Albert V. Sibilia 

Ed Smejkal 

JoAnne Smejkal 

Steve & Hope Smejkal 

Leonard Sorys 

Jerry & Jean Stahmer 

Tom & Toni Stankiewicz 

Chet & Virginia Stefanski 

Catherine Stirts 

Pat Sweeney 

Mark & Deborah Uden 

Dorothy Uzel 

Weekends Only 

Gary Wehenkel 

Rose Gibbs 

Gary & Marlene Thell Machal 

Maurice Healy 

Kelly Connelly Lawler 

Dennis P. Hogan, Jr. 

Joan Fitzgerald Obarski 

Jo Russo 

John & Mary Lou Szalewski 

Mary Ann Koraleski Wessling 

James D. Horgan 

Crown Cork & Seal Company 

Alice (DeDe) C. Hundelt 

Jo Russo 

Marlene Stanesic Hyda, 

SM ’54 

Beverly Carter Campbell 

H. Katherine Jensen 

Mrs. Theresa Ganapini 

Robert J. Koraleski, Sr. 

Joan Fitzgerald Obarski 

Jo Russo 

John & Mary Lou Szalewski 

Marianne L. Schwee Tripp 

Joseph John Kupres 


Lucille Lynam Warren ’SJ 

38 

Patricia A. Ferrando 

Earl Macloskey 


Donna Condon Mangan, 

SJ ’51 

Joe & Larri Smejkal Caniglia 

Reno & Terri Ganapini 

Josephine Caniglia Lohmeier 

Sylvia Marcuzzo 

Josephine Caniglia Lohmeier 

Hugh F. McGahan 

Ms. Margie Cunningham 

John & Ann Bendon Wieberg 

John Moran 


William Muecke 

Reno & Terri Ganapini 

John Narduzzo, Sr. 

Mr. & Mrs. Bob Nystrom 

Marilee Netusil 

Sally Groves Theiler 

M. Susan “Susie” Huffman 

Osborne ’67 

Kathy Troia Radosevich 

Matthew Ostblom 


Mary Catherine Owens 

’57 

John Owens Family: John, 

Kathleen, & Sr. Johneen 

Owens, RSM 

Betty Peterson 

Kelly Connelly Lawler 

Margaret Prchal Peterson, 

SJ ’34 

Jo Ann Peterson 

Gladys Piksa 

Peg Stoysich 

Armand Pilon 

Jeff & Jane Green Alseth 

Deb Radik 

Joe & Jean Ward Nekola 

Dolores Clines Robino, 

SJ ’ 35 

Eleanor Lynch Heaston 

Sally Hollingshead 

Roseland ’72 

Helen & Harold Abrahamson 

Mark & Linda Abrahamson

Charles & Frances Addy 

James & Denise Adrian 

Lori & Alan Baldwin 

Michael & Marybeth Barmettler 

Paul & Nanette Beller 

Ronald H. Bettger 

Jerry & Michaeleen Boulay 

Lindsey & Donald Briganti 

Duane & Nadine Burson 

Mark Campbell & Valerie Taylor 

Commercial Flooring Systems, 

Inc. 

Frank & Irene Dohn 

June A. Elder 

Kirk & Cecile Eledge 

Mayor Michael G. Fahey 

Michael & Jeanmarie Powers 

Fonfara 

Deborah M. Franco 


Sherri & Gary Green 

Frank & Norma Hargrave 

Daniel & Jeanne Huelskamp 

Dave Janke Plumbing 

Angela Johansen 

Claudia J. Kaser 

Kosiski Auto Parts, Inc. 

Rob & Lisa Kuhl 

Virginia & Barry Kuhl 

Leonard L. Larson 

Gene Lilly Surety Bonds, Inc. 

Elmer & Kay McCann 

Fred & Barbara McCoy 

Steve & Carol Mendenhall 

Philip & Dorothy Miller 

Scott & Mary Mauro Mitchell 

Robert & Mary Helen Murphy 

E. Lois Peterson 

Martin Plack 

Doug & Karen Rickers 

Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Ritzdorf 

Mary & Robert Ryan, Jr. 

Ronald & Margaret Schuller 

Don & Glenda Sears 

Thomas & Karen Shonquist 

Robert & Joyce Synowiecki 

Donna & Mark Turner 

Bernie & Amy Vacek 

Fred, Robert, Ronald & Marilyn 

Wackerhagen 

Raymond J. Walowski 

Bruce & Cheryl Wells 

John & Mary Ellen Wilhelmi 

Mike & Mary Kay Bilek Wolf 

Elsie Rozmiarek 

Leonard & Mary Lou Nemec 

Gunia 

Maxine Rupp 


Robert Shields 

Sr. Catherine Marie Franey, 

RSM 

Jerry Sitter 

Sr. Johanna Burnell, RSM 

Sr. Jeanne O’Rourke, RSM 

Veronica Sklenicka 

Mr. & Mrs. Larry Swanson 

Reaching for the Stars 

Barbara Jean Smith, SJ 

’53 

Tom & Eileen Annin 

Harlan & Santa Marie 

Bachmann 

Dan & Sharon Palladino Burns 

Beverly Carter Campbell 

Terrence M. Connelly 

Bob & Carol Smola Dargy 

Joan F. Durr 

Mike & Rose Fitch 

Robert & Judy Bosiljevac 

Harden 

Lynne E. (Mrs. Don) King 

Gerald & Connie Kleber 

James & Virginia O’Leary 

Kurzak 


Mary L. McGrath 

Carl & Jo Ann Miller 

Kathleen O’Brien 

Margaret M. Raur 

Margaret M. Reynolds 

Louise Anne Rinn 

Daniel J. Smith 

Maurice E. Waring 

Keith & Rosemary Begley 

Weide 

Mary Spellman 

Hugh Edward Spellman 

Dorina Vinardi 

Bill & Norma Thell Begley 



Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Vinardi & 

Family 

James P. Welsh, Sr. 

Sr. M. Cabrini Camel, RSM 

Sr. Marian Camel, RSM 

John F. Wisnieski 


Loraine Zacit 

Mary Fran Hoffman Brannen 

Faith Knowledge Service Phonathon 2007 

In mid-March, we will be contacting the Mercy community for support of the 

Annual Fund. Your unrestricted annual fund dollars ensure a quality education 

by paying teachers’ salaries, upgrading ever-changing technology and 

guaranteeing negotiated tuition. Fully eighty-five percent of Mercy’s young 

women receive financial assistance. Mercy must raise nearly $1,000,000 

annually strictly for negotiated tuition. 

If you would be interested in volunteering for Phonathon, 

please contact Mary Emmer at emmerm@mercyhigh.org or (402) 553-9424. 

You can donate on line at our website 

www.mercyhigh.org 

21

22 

In Memoriam 

The Mercy High School community extends sincere 

sympathy to the families and friends of those who 

have died. 

Alumnae 

Thelma Roche, SJ ’31 

Theresa Cvitak Bilek, SM ’32 

Elizabeth Welsh Stankawich, 

SJ ’34 

Alice Mokry Fletcher, SJ ’35 

Stasia Kava, SM ’37 

Anne Dulacki Magiera, SM ’42 

June Roberts Nestlebush, SJ ’42 

Alice Timberman Piccolo, SJ ’44 

Dolores Tracy Horacek, SJ ’46 

Mary Glenn Beal, SM ’49 

Joan Koesters Wilkins, SJ ’49 

Theresa Krajicek Mlynczak, SM 

’50 

Donna Condon Mangan, SJ ’51 

Mary Clare Neuberger English, 

SM ’52 

Barbara Smith, SJ ’53 

Marlene Stanesic Hyda, SM ’54 

Mary Huffman Osborne ’67 

Sally Hollingshead Roseland ’72 

Husbands 

Ruth Kalamaja Hogan, SJ ’40 

Rosemary Downing Reeves, SJ 

’40 

Germaine Bursick Ficenec, SJ 

’43 

Alice Cunningham Ferry-Muecke, 

SM ’45 

Theresa Lukowski Kohanek, SJ 

’48 

Virgean Handrick Shields, SM 

’49 

Vinette Southwick Tenopir, SJ 

’53 

Patricia Tarascio Vocelka ’60 

Kathleen Erdei Bassett ’64 

Mothers 

Frances Leas Wieneke ,SM ’53 

Betty Roubal Blaylock ’56 

Theresa Leas Brazda ’56 

Josephine Marcuzzo Macaitis 

’56 

Judith Sigmund Rischling ’58 

Mary Bolgar Safranek ’58 

Patricia Gleason Masek ’59 

Madeline Petrocchi ’59 

Patricia Loftus Stander ’59 

Marge Roubal Droll ’60 

Mary Gleason Likes ’61 

Josephine Leas Tscheschke ’61 

Constance Vinardi Weikel ’62 

Marian Cepuran ’65 

Monica Piccolo Larsen ’65 

Sandy Nee ’65 

Kathleen Dowd Goodell ’66 

Victoria Mangan Menard ’66 

Colleen Nee Beckwith ’67 

Elaine Finn Cotton ’67 

Kathlyn Jancik McCarthy ’67 

Bernadine Vinardi Stander ’68 

Carol Finn ’69 

Frances Parmentar McKee ’69 

Jeanne Cepuran Brinjak ’70 

Ann Connelly Brannen ’71 

Jean Parmentar Burr ’71 

Judith Zelinger McGuire ’71 

Mary Kay Bilek Wolf ’71 

M. Judith Jankowski French ’72 

Jean Finn ’73 

Susan Bilek Katsaounis ’73 

Mary Nee Overton ’73 

Mary Jo Netusil Lockett ’75 

Theresa Netusil Buck ’77 

Amy Roseland McClellan ’91 

Amy Schuman ’91 

Sara Smith ’04 

Step-Mothers 

Bonnie Casey Culhane ’64 

Mothers-in-Law 

Peggy Hanna Crouch ’62 

Maxine Thell Vinardi ’62 

Anne Ryder Fletcher ’71 

M. Susan Stefanski Heaney ’71 

Mary Theresa Kanger Farrell ’74 

Diane Gunia Blessie ’84 

Fathers 

Kathleen Pilon Gates ’65 

Mary Pat Fowler Kuppig ’69 

Mary Jane Amdor Cartmill ’70 

Laura Ganapini Hasenfratz ’80 

Karen Snyder Beck ’83 

Elizabeth Gillen Cambridge ’85 

Amy Snyder Zimpleman ’86 

Clare Shanahan Losole ’95 

Kathleen Shanahan ’98 

Fathers-in-Law 

La Joy Mathers Popejoy ’61 

Diane Vermillion Dougherty ’73 

Daughters 

Laraine Williams Marinkovich, 

SJ ’46 

Sons 

Janet Tomsheck Barnes, SM 

’53 

Sisters 

Berniece Sheridan Marfisi, SM 

’33 

Dorothy Neu Brandl, SJ ’34 

Phyllis Neu Gottula, SJ ’40 

Patricia Mokry Starwyck, SJ ’40 

Joan Mokry Herman, SJ ’42 

Gladys Koesters Fitzgerald, SJ 

’52 

Barbara Irwin Loukota, SJ ’52 

Marilyn Krajicek ’58 

Carol Avery Steinhause ’63 

Susan Hollingshead Marks ’64 

Rebecca Nahas ’64 

Kathleen Tinley Payne ’64 

Karen Marinkovich Swesey ’67 

Jane Hollingshead Garvey ’69 

Catherine Wrobleski Lane ’71 

Ann Hollingshead Marks ’76 

Therese Kripal Kramer ’80 

Karen Kripal Favor ’85 

Jennifer Duffy Chubb ’94 

Sisters-in-Law 

Gerry English Stewart, SJ ’45 

Janet Willenburg Urban ’58 

Joan Emsick Ketelsen ’65 

Constance Mangano ’73 

Brothers 

Josephine Gibilisco Gaeta, SJ 

’39 

Mary Margaret Hogan 

O’Hearn, SJ ’42 

Catherine Hogan Spiers, SJ ’43 

Betty Kuhfahl Andresen, SJ ’44 

Agnes Vocelka Fila, SM ’47 

Clare Hogan Cholet, SJ ’48 

Mary Ann Koraleski Wessling, 

SJ ’48 

Mary Jo McGinty Wilhelmj, SM 

’48 

Patricia Bauer Chleborad, SM 

’51 

Therese Bizal Pavlik, SJ ’51 

JoAnn Protaskey Bober, SM ’52 

Mary Lois Bauer Williams, SM 

’52 

Claire Adamek Marley, SJ ’54 

Bonnie Vana Zurfluh ’68 

Brothers-in-Law 

Kathleen Crowe Reeves, SM 

’34 

Dorothy Kalamaja Irwin, SM ’35 

Donna McMahon Etter, SJ ’41 

Mary Ann Cunningham Filippi, 

SM ’42 

Jo Kastl Henely, SM ’47 

June Emminger Griffith, SM ’50 

Mary Kay Krejci Bizal, SM ’52 

Marj Kastl Krawczyk, SM ’52 

Teresa Kastl, SM ’55 

Julie Herek Bizal ’56 

Jane Spring Shanahan ’58 

Gay Ganiglia Gruttemeyer ’63 

Martha Grant Bruckner ’67 

Kathleen Vana Kensinger ’69 

Grandmothers 

Mary Rischling Kanan ’84 

Laura Rischling ’86 

Cheryl Jankowski Huelle ’93 

Kellie Brannen ’96 

Rachael Battiato ’97 

Colleen Brannen ’98 

Michelle Battreall Adams ’99 

Heather Overton ’01 

McKenzie Abraham ’07 

Leah Clark ’10 

Alyssa Towsend ’10 

Great-Grandmothers 

Sarah Clapp ’08 

Cecelie Zamarripa ’08 

Araceli Zamarripa ’09 

Grandfathers 

Tricia Jonyka Eckley ’93 

Amy Czaja Robinson ’93 

Sabra Perkins ’96 

Brandi Kapoun ’97 

Marlowe Mapes ’08 

Grandsons 

Gertrude Riordan Rhoads, SJ 

’53 

Aunts 

Josephine Caniglia Lohmeier, 

SJ ’51 

Mary Ann Dulacki Brader ’56 

Angela Spenceri Brewster ’56 

Jeanne Kawa Cole ’58 

Virginia Tourek Rahn ’59 

Joyce Roach Reinig ’59 

Patricia Kennelly Mitilier ’60 

Virginia Dulacki Fischer ’62 

Kathleen Kennelly Livingston 

’62 

Lucille Italia Holloway ’64 

JoAnne Italia Martin ’65 

Barbara Thornton LaPour ’65 

Mary Carol Zitka Lynch ’65 

Joyce Zitka Prchal ’67 

Pamela Thornton ’68 

Maureen McNally Smithberg 

’69 

M. Kathleen McNally Boyle ’70 

Julie Cavanaugh Stolz ’70 

Terri Krause Ingram ’71 

Colleen McNally Moore ’71 

Ann McNally Jensen ’74 

Laura Ganapini Hasenfratz ’80 

Linda Smith Henninger ’83 

Lisa Smith Keenan ’84 

Kim Krawczyk Madrigal ’90 

Jennifer Krawczyk ’96 

Aunt-in-Law 

Barbara Wilczynski Tourek ’66 

Great Aunt 

Katie Lynch ’99 

Cassandra Tinley ’08

Laura Ingram ’09 

Megan Keenan ’09 

Alyssa Tinley ’10 

Jessica Tinley ’10 

Uncles 

Catherine Sullivan Roddy, SJ 

’36 

Sr. Mary Lucina Kozeny, 

RSM, SM ’51 

Margaret Sullivan Livingston, 

SM ’51 

Rita Sullivan, SM ’51 

Mary Kay Sullivan Klein ’56 

Mary Prerost Incontro ’64 

Mary Jankowski Hartquist ’65 

Geraldine Cieslik Szuberla ’65 

Theresa Sullivan Wieczorek ’68 

Susan Gorup ’69 

Rosemary Kalamaja Wesely ’71 

Karol Krawczyk Carroll ’79 

Sandy Smejkal Baker ’86 

Rachel Westwood ’10 

Uncle-in-Law 

Liane Smith Gulizia ’69 

Great Uncles 

Susan Livingston ’75 

Elizabeth Livingston ’87 

Jodi Wieczorek Hume ’95 

Laura Kalamaja ’95 

Lea Kalamaja Coffman ’98 

Lindsay Carroll ’07 

Niece 

Gertrude Duffy Dawdy, SM ’50 

Judy Stevens Fiala ’60 

Maureen Stevens Folda ’61 

Nancy Stevens Farber ’63 

Sophomore & Alumnae 

Career Fair 

The sophomore class 

participated in the first 

Sophomore Career Fair 

held in January. The 

career fair focused on 

the sophomore’s top ten 

career choices. 

Alumnae with the 

specific careers were 

invited as career fair 

representatives to 

share their expertise, 

give an insider’s look at 

Kristi Walters Wessling ’88, Mercy 

High School math teacher 

the career and what 

education/certifications 

are needed for the 

careers. 

The career fair format was casual and conversational, 

building connections between the sophomores and 

alumnae. Breakout sessions were held so the 

sophomores could learn more about their top three 

choices. The top ten careers with representations 

were: 

Career Fields and Alumnae 

Nursing - Amanda Fulton ’98 & Angela Wieberg 

Maynard ’83 

Pharmacy - Lisa Lawton ’97 

Professor of Nursing - Sarah Peterson Bergman ’92 

Education – Primary - Eileen Egan & Joyce Johnson* 

Education – Middle - Ellen Babb* 

Education – Secondary - Kristi Wessling ’88 

Public Relations - Sandy Goetzinger-Comer ’70 

Attorney - Francie Riedmann Wies ’81 

Business – Restaurant Owner - Nicole Hahn Jesse ’80 

Nephew 

Claire Adamek Marley, SJ ’54 

Cousin 

Kathleen Englund Miana, SJ 

’46 

Cousin-in-Law 

Kay Smith Thull ’56 

The alumnae 

empowered the 

sophomores by 

sharing what 

impact Mercy’s 

education will 

have, and 

continue to have, 

on the 

sophomores in 

their careers and 

life after Mercy. 

The sophomores 

felt comforted 

and reassured 

Nicole Hahn Jesse ’80, business owner, 

wiith Patty Sobetski 

seeing the alumnae mirror their future, showing them 

that they can pursue their dream and make it a 

reality. The connections between the alumnae and 

sophomores laid the ground work for mentoring/ 

shadowing career opportunities. 

L to R: Shalea Cotton, Awa Werge Sarah Peterson Bergman 

’92, professor of nursing with Nebraska Methodist College of 

Nursing, Kaitlin Wonder, Morgan Fuerstenau, Jayne Bartek 

(* Retired teachers, not alumnae) 

23

24 

Christmas 

Candles for 

Mercy Donors 

Kate Janca Adams ’77 

Jeff & Jane Green Alseth ’65 

Rose Liss Anania ’58 

Jeanne Sorich Anderson ’65 

Georgia Malnick Aquila ’65 

Kathleen A. Erdei Bassett ’64 

Ann Bauer, SM ’38 

Elizabeth Bauer, SM ’36 

Josephine Bauer, SM ’41 

Mr. Charles Beal 

Judi Belitz, D. D. S. ’83 

Joan Staskiewicz Belitz ’56 

Colleen Rukas Bentley ’68 

Mary Belle Boeding 

Sharon Bonacci ’70 

Ingrid Kalinowski Borghoff ’65 

Karen Pecha Bouckaert ’72 

Rosemary O’Hanlon 

Broadstone ’60 

Ellen L. Bryant 

Max & Jeannine Burbach 

Dr. Joan Tesarek Bursey ’61 

Erica Peterson Bush ’92 

Catherine Connelly Cabo, SJ 

’51 

Pat Callone & Bill Flynn, SM ’55 

Jerry & Mary Jarecki Camp ’73 

Barry & Carol Caster 

Mary F. Cavel 

Larry & Pam Ciecior 

Warrine P. Coffey ’61 

Jo Ann Conboy 

Patricia A. Connelly ’65 

Megan R. Cox ’98 

Mary & Tim Coyle 

Rose M. Crowley 

Rose Cuka 

Eileen Van Buren Curran ’58 

Gertrude Duffy Dawdy, SM ’50 

Sr. Elaine Delaney,RSM 

Sr. Mary Jo DeMarco, RSM, 

SM ’34 

Kathleen Jensen D’Ercole ’61 

Donna Vondra De Vincenzi, 

SM ’49 

Mary Ann Mullink Dobiesz, SM 

’55 

Sean & Jennifer Dorcy 

Cassie Dorland ’06 

Mr. & Mrs Louis Dorland 

Mrs. Jennifer Duncan In 

memory of Lee Fowler 

C. D. & Cathy Duran 

Barbara Reh Evans, SJ ’50 

Karin Fangman ’78 

Mr. Irvin J. Farnan 

Donna Moravec Filice ’60 

Mr. John Fitzsimmons 

Joan Battaglia Foreman-Mertz 

’62 

Nadine Freshman 

Suzanne Liebentritt Garcia ’66 

Kitty Kelly Grace ’61 In honor 

of Ruth Lonergan Kelly, SJ 

29 

Sr. M. Jude Graham, RSM, SM 

’37 

Joyce Trout Green ’68 

Joseph G. Guziec, III 

Rita Macias Hall ’68 

Mary Gordon Haman ’62 

Claire Allison Harry, SM ’51 

Mary Ann Douda Hartley, SM 

’53 

Mary Jo Havlicek, SM ’52 

Eleanor Lynch Heaston, SM 

’30 

Rita Heavrin 

Dolores Barrientos Hernandez 

’56 

Mary Pat Ruma Hodgens ’76 

Walt & Rita Hower 

Hugh Huston 

Diane Inserra ’86 

Interstate Printing Co. 

Dan & Sam Jamrozy 

Leonard M. Jaworski 

Judy E. Rashid Johnson ’62 

M. Colleen O’Brien Johnston 

’59 

Mary Gleeson Jonaitis , SJ ’43 

Cathy Katzenberger ’68 

Marilyn Kocarnik Kearney ’64 

Leanne Prewitt Keierleber ’97 

Joseph H. & Barbara Kenney 

Msgr. Eugene H. Kerwin 

Cathy Kessler 

Karen Krzycki Kisicki ’70 

Sr. M. Lucina Kozeny, RSM , 

SM ’51 

William C. & Jane F. Krajicek 

Mary Ann Kraniewski , SM ’50 

Nettie Kreifels 

Virginia M. Krist 

Tom & Jane LaHood 

Thomas & Bonnie Lang 

Donna Griffith Larkin, SM ’47 

Mary Beth Lavelle ’68 

Mrs. Margaret E. Lavelle 

Jim & Paula Lavelle 

Elsie A. Leavitt 

Gerald & Karen Lenczowski 

David & Mary Franco Levy ’70 

Ms. Dorothy M. Lincoln 

Jim & Lorri Linenbrink 

Larry Lord 

Jeanne Nauslar Luedtke ’66 

James Francis Lynch 

Margaret Hopkins Macaitis ’56 

Marlene Thell Machal SM ’55 

JoAnn Alter Maher SM ’48 

Christine Basque Malloy ’87 

Sr. M. Clare Manhart, RSM, 

SM ’51 

Lucy Buda Marasco SM ’55 

Mike & Lori Marchese 

Susan Matsunami 

Jennifer Taylor Mawson ’93 

Marianne Nanfito Maxwell ’59 

Mary May 

Rev. John McCaslin 

Rev. Patrick McCaslin 

Kevin & Dee McCoy 

Patricia McGovern SJ ’43 

Maureen E. McGrath ’57 

Ted & Cindy Menzel 

Bill Messenger 

Dennis & Rose Ann Michalski 

Sandi Manna Miller ’68 

Louise Morello 

Kay Giordano Morocco SJ ’36 

Maryann Schneiderwind Morris 

SM ’45 

Claire Riley Murnan SM ’45 

Peg Poffenbarger Neumann 63 

Heather Newville 

Jim & Sharon Novak 

Rose Mary O’Boyle 

Robert & Betty O’Brien 

Rev. Charlie O’Rourke 

Claire & Betty Oswald 

Beth Kohout Oubre ’94 

Colleen Ourada ’10 

Pat & Mary Lou Parr 

Bill & Susan Parr 

Mr. Eugene Peter 

Rev. John L. Pietramale 

Marian Greco Pirruccello SM 

’42 

Carol Ann Cooney Pitzer SM 

’53 

Loretta Halamek Plagge ’82 

John & Patty Ptacek 

John & Priscilla Connelly Quinn 

’68 

Sr. Monica Marie Reichmuth, 

RSM 

Joe & Carol Reifenrath 

Jennifer Reifenstahl ’00 

Ed & Ann Rejda 

Kara Mattini Renne ’97 

Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Rischling 

Drs. Bill & Jane Dethlefs 

Roccaforte ’74 

Mr. & Mrs. Corwin D. Rogers 

Jeff & Fay Sampson 

Mr. & Mrs. Ghazi Y. Sawaged 

Christine Scherr ’64 

Patricia Esser Scherrman SM 

’55 

Mr. Michael J. Scherr 

Annette Tomcykowski Schmitz 

’56 

Bernard & Regina Kimball 

Schnitker SJ ’39 

Joyce Palladino Schueth ’59 

Karen Humlicek Sedlacek ’60 

Clara Rolen Semerad SJ ’35 

Sr. Susan Severin, RSM, SM 

’55 

Richard & Suzanne Shepherd 

Jim & Barbara Reynek 

Sichmeller ’58 

Margie Silvestrini ’77 

Donna Harty Simpson SJ ’55 

Mary Ann Cusick Sklenar SM 

’54 

Mary L. Skupa SM ’54 

Tim & Paulette Smith 

Marguerite L. Crivera Smith SJ 

‘ 46 In memory of Sr. 

Vincetta (Marie) Crivera, 

CPPS, SM ’49 

Lorray D. Smith ’67 

Judith Poetzel Soliz ’57 

Claire Sobczyk Sova SM ’50 

Gene & Marilyn Spence 

Kathryn Sindelar Stacey SM 

’53 

Patti Mokry Starwyck SJ ’40 

Jim & Marsha Stewart 

Joanne M. Stewart ’72 

Judith Kraft Stoughton ’63 

Joyce Rosenberg Stranglen 

’61 

Sharon Sullivan ’65 

Mark & Robin Micek Taylor ‘71 

In honor of Leo J. Taylor 

Vinette Southwick Tenopir SJ 

’53 

Emmet & Susan Tinley 

Merrilleen Larsen Tippery SJ 

’42 

Patricia Tolliver ’73 

Kathy Townsend 

Mary Ann Reh Traugh ’68 

Dr. & Mrs. Louis Tribulato 

Joanne Zegar Tusa ’67 

Kathleen Kennedy Tuttle SM 

’54 

Mr. & Mrs. Cyril Tworek 

Anthony & Terri Vancura 

Vacanti ’73 

Willliam & Sharon Veys 

Maxine Thell Vinardi ’62 

Laurie Thomas Wagner ’72 

James & Maureen Waldron 

Sr. M. Jeanne Ward, RSM ‘ 59 

Joan Grzywa Wawrzynkiewicz 

SM ’50 

Sherri Wehr 

Al & Diane Welch 

Therese S. Nadolny Welge SJ 

’44 

Joyce Jensen Whalley ’58 

Marie Moylan Wharton SM ’48 

Lucille Kupfer Windels ’62 

Susan M. Gunia Winkelmann 

’85 

Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Wolfe 

Mr. & Mrs. Maurice J. Zach 

Theresa Stuczynski Zadina SJ 

’53 

Geraldine McCafferty 

Zimmerman ’56 

Jo Ann & Daniel Zuerlein

Kathy Baines Kizer ’66 

Chair 

Committee 

Dr. George & Rose Marie 

Bendon Basque ’59 

Judi Belitz, D.D.S. ’83 

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bujarski 


Patricia Callone-Flynn, SM ’55 

Vicki Michalski Carpenter ’83 

Pat & Carol Neill Casey ’58 

Joan Jaksich Cimpl, SM ’51 

Dr. & Mrs. Michael Collins 

Dr. Timothy J. Cook 

Maurice & June Cox 

Mike & Marcia DeFreece 

John P. Fahey 

Gloria Jezewski Flynn, SJ ’50 

Rene Wilfong Garvey, SM ’45 

Gary & Kathy Pilon Gates ’65 

JoMarie Guastello 

Louis & Dorothy Kros Halamek, 

SM ’51 

Bruce & Marlene Haney 


Rita Heavrin 

Carolyn Jaworski ’64 

Antoinette Kuhry ’63 

Tom & Annette Mayer Kutilek 

’57 

Mr. & Mrs. Michael F. Lawler 

Mr. & Mrs. Les Lawless 

Ellen Ritzdorf Lierk ’70 

Dick & Mary Pat Smola 

McCormick ‘ 58 

Holly McCoy 

Kevin & Dee McCoy 

Ann Louise Urzendowski Micek, 

SM ’49 

J. F. O’Neill Packing Co., Inc. 

Sarita Troia Penka ’67 

Fred & Mary Jo Romano 

Petersen ’58 

Marian Greco Pirruccello, SM 

’42 

Don & Theresa Dymak Ponec, 

SJ ’48 

Ed & Rose Regan 

Terrie Houston Ringwalt ’67 

Drs. Bill & Jane Dethlefs 

Roccaforte ’74 

Connie Ryan ’70 

Lorray Smith ’67 

Gene & Marilyn Spence 

Joanne Stewart ’72 

Teresa Vancura Vacanti ’72 

Sr. Jeanne Ward, RSM ’59 

Rev. Tom Ward 

Donors 

Georgia Malnick Aquila ’65 

Sandra Stahlecker Badura ’62 

Anna J. Bauer, SM ’38 

Elizabeth R. Bauer, SM ’36 

Josephine F. Bauer, SM ’41 

Dr. John & Joan Staskiewicz 

Belitz ’56 

Colleen Rukas Bentley ’68 

Marie Krajicek Biga, SJ ’38 

Julie Herek Bizal ’56 


In honor of Holly McCoy’s 

birthday 

Borsheims Fine Jewelry & Gifts 

Karen A. Pecha Bouckaert ’72 

Judge & Mrs. James Buckley 

Marianela Bevins Buglewicz , 

SM ’53 

Michael J. Burke 

Rachel Burbach Burns ’94 

Anna Jane Burton 

Barry & Carol Caster 

Chris & Diane Cernik 

Warrine P. Coffey ’61 

Heidi Connealy ’97 

Kathleen M. Connolly 

Mary & Tim Coyle 

John & Margaret Draney 

Crouse ’79 

Kathleen Jensen D’Ercole ’61 

Joe & Sandy DiSomma 

Mary Ann Mullink Dobiesz, SM 

’55 

C. D. & Cathy Duran 

Sarah J. Eades ’93 

Susan Burrows Einsel ’70 

Sr. Sharon Ekler, RSM 

Teresa Kula Elder ’79 

Cynthia Farmer 

Linda Walsh Fell ’65 

John R. Fitzsimmons 

Nadine Freshman 

Brett & Jackie Frevert 

Genevieve Krebbs Friend, SM 

’52 

Amanda Fulton ’98 

Ms. Peg F. Gallagher 

Msgr. Robert J. Gass 

Dorothy Sealock Gawehn- 

Frisby, SJ ’49 

Margaret M. Herek Gillen, SM 

’53 

Carmella Giordano, SJ ’43 

Sr. M. Jude Graham, RSM, SM 

’37 

Joyce Trout Green ’68 

Joseph G. Guziec, III 

Elden & Cynthia Hamata 

Elizabeth Carey Hamilton, SJ 

’41 

Karen Gunia Harris ’92 

Richard & Judith Suing Harvey 

’56 

William & Mary Harvey 

Eleanor Lynch Heaston, SM 

’30 

Dr. & Mrs. Leonard T. Higgins 

Richard & Patricia Hegarty 

Hinz, SM ’55 

Mary Clare Severin Hoppens, 

SJ ’38 

Helen Houston 

Dr. & Mrs. James V. Huerter 

International Gamco, Inc. 

Jo James 

Jim & Cindy Jandrain 

Mr. Leonard M. Jaworski 

Dr. Christine Chonis Jeffrey ’75 

Cathy Katzenberger ’68 

Joseph H. Kenney 

Msgr. Eugene H. Kerwin 

Tom & Cathy Kessler 

Karen Krzycki Kisicki ’70 

Bill & Bunnie Kizer 

John E. & Renee Kizer 

Kathy Watsabaugh Kratochvil, 

SJ ’52 

Marj Kastl Krawczyk, SM ’52 

Virginia M. Krist 

Virginia O’Leary Kurzak ’56 

Mary Beth Lavelle ’68 

Angela DeMarco Leise ’96 

Catherine Gillaspie Lullo, SM 

’53 

Marge Hopkins Macaitis ’56 

Ray & Mary Jo Madej 

JoAnn Alter Maher, SM ’48 

Carol Maloney ’62 

Sr. M. Patricius Maloney, RSM 

Mary May 

Rev. John O. McCaslin 

Rev. Patrick McCaslin 

Alice McGowan, SM ’47 

Maureen McGrath ’57 

John & Nancy Meng-Frecker 

Ted & Cindy Menzel 

Peach Kocarnik Mondragon 

’59 

Clete Morehead 

Lori Morehead 

Kay Giordano Morocco, SJ ’36 

Sr. Lois Mary Morrissey, RSM, 

SM ’55 

Patricia Morrissey ’56 

Jim & Sharlene Novak 

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Novotny 

Mary Margaret Hogan 

O’Hearn, SJ ’42 

John & Kathleen Opitz 

Pat & Mary Lou Parr 

Rev. Frank A. Partusch 

Mr. & Mrs. P. Thomas Pogge 

Daniel & Carol Potter 

Laura Rogers Prophater ’64 

John & Patty Ptacek 

Joe & Carol Reifenrath 

Margaret Reynolds 

Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Ritzdorf 

Jeff & Fay Sampson 

Carolyn Janowiak Schiltz ’61 

Patricia Lynam Schultz ’70 

Dick & Sue Shepherd 

Tom & Janet Sobczyk 

Patricia Mokry Starwyck, SJ 

’40 

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Stewart 

Jerome (Butch) & Shelly 

Stolinski 

Frank, Sr. & Marilyn Yechout 

Stoysich ’57 

Michele McGill Stultz ’74 

Kathy Conway Surdell ’66 

Larry & Sandy Sykora 

Mrs. Adelaide G. Szynskie 

Jim & Nancy Thompson 

Jim & Maureen Waldron 

Mary Lou Shirley Weber ’66 

Marie Moylan Wharton, SM ’48 

Dr. John Winters 

Rich & Kim Yost 

Peggy Yungbluth, M. D. ’65 

Maurice & Pat Zach 

Make an Alumnae Trip 

Part of Your Future 

An Alumnae Trip is tentatively being 

planned for 2008. 

The alumnae office needs your input 

on the trip destination. Is there a 

location to which you would like to 

travel with your classmates, such as 

Ireland, Italy, Greece, Australia or 

other location? 

Please contact Mary Emmer, alumnae 

relations/special events coordinator at 

(402) 553-9424 or 

emmerm@merchyhigh.org with your 

destination suggestion. 

25

26 

Annual Giving Fund 

September 1, 2006 - January 15, 2007 

Donor Donor Clubs 

Clubs 

Heart of Mercy Society ~ 

($5000+) 

McAuley Society + 

($1000 - $4999) 

Mercy Circle ^ ($500 - $999) 

President’s Club > ($100 - 

$499) 

Charter Members * 

Heart of Mercy Society 


RSM, MSM ’29 

James G. & Judy Skinner 


McAuley Society 

Anonymous 


Bendon Basque ’59 

Larry E. & Pam Ciecior 

Brett & Jackie Frevert 

Richard D. & Mary Pat Smola 

McCormick ’58* 

Mary Palmesano ’59 

Patrick T. & Patricia McGinnis 

Lorray D. Smith ’67* 

Gene & Marilyn Spence* 

Mercy Circle 

Margaret Gorham Carney ’72 

Class of 1956 

Margaret Peter Egenberger SJ 

’39 

Jerry & Marianne Beck Hall 

’66* 

Mary Jane Monico Herron ’74 

Lucille M. Langdon 

Eugene & Roseann Lilla 

Gary & Mary Tuttle Marasco 

’67* 

Margaret Conrey Pedersen SM 

’49 

Frank & Jill Mihulka 

Thomas P. & Tammie Spence 

Nussrallah ’86* 

Mary Jo Pitzl ’75* 

Edward T. & Rosalie Regan 

Judith Poetzel Soliz ’57* 

Anthony & Teresa Vancura 

Vacanti ’73* 

President’s Club 

Denise Matya Barrett ’88 

John R. & Teresa Beck 

Diane Gunia Blessie ’84 

Dr. J. Robert & Kathleen 

Calvert Bohacek, SJ ’43 

Ingrid Kalinowski Borghoff ’65* 

Barbara Fonfara Braak ’61 

Don & Carolyn Bukowski 

Sharon Palladino Burns, SM 

’53* 

Sr. M. Cabrini Camel, RSM, SM 

’42* 

James F. & Edith Harvat 

Caniglia, SJ ’55 

Victoria Michalski Carpenter 

’83 

Joyce Lampe Connolly, SM ’55 

Kathleen Kisicki Cook ’56 

Mary E. Corboy, SM ’53* 

Bonnie Casey Culhane ’64 

Betty Trout Eckley ’63 

Tancy Dodson Ellis ’68* 

Maureen Becka Falcon ’85 

Dan Flynn 

Mary Tomcykowski Fox ’82 

Carrie Zuerlein George ’91 

Armand & Mary Rae Metz 

Gibbons ’58 

Steven J. & Deborah Sortino 

Gradowski ’71* 

Suzanne Grandinetti ’69* 

Judi Reynolds Hand ’79 

Jennifer S. Hladik ’96 

Deborah Keating ’70 

Donald & Jean Korff 

Melissa Krayneski ’91 

Carol Zitur Lang, SJ ’49 

Stacey L. Larson ’99 

Marlene Thell Machal, SM ’55 

Holly McCoy* 

Mary Zenk McHugh ’72 

Dorothy Moser McLane, SM 

’49 

Jeannine Cooney McNulty, SJ 

’47* 

Sr. M. Concetta Medina RSM 

Mary Guziec Mendenhall ’62 

Jessica Moeschler-Miller ’89 

JoAnn Daley Morey ’59* 

Joyce Ball Mraz ’59 

Joy Neneman ’57 

John C. & Patricia Knutson 

Nordick ’63 

Mary Anne Fochek North ’76 

Robert & Nancy Nystrom 

Kelly Nystrom ’86 

Robert G. & Betty O’Brien 

Joseph & Mary Pittman 

Theresa Dymak Ponec, SJ ’48 

Hugh J. & Deanna Reilly 

Josephine Russo, SJ ’48* 

Maggie Prusa Stoerzinger ’88* 

Mary Tanner, SM ’53 

William & Carolyn Anderson 

Taylor ’71 

Janet Schmidt Tomarkin ’68 

Catherine Franco Van Haute 

’81 

Julie Vankat 

Fred & Nancy Bertagni 

Wackerhagen ’73* 

Michele Zach Walker ’85 

Thomas G. & Barbara Stoffel 

Walsh ’65 

Sr. Jeanne Ward, RSM ’59* 

John & Erin Ward 

Christopher & Kathy Wheeler 

Mary Clare Seward Wilson, SM 

’55 

Benefactors 

Mr. and Mrs. Larry E. Ciecior+ 

Sr. Maura Clark, RSM 

Sr. Mary Clarita Costello, RSM 

Ms. Rita Floersch 

Mr. Dan Flynn> 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Korff> 

Sr. M. Patricius Maloney, RSM 

Sr. M. Concetta Medina, 

RSM> 

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. 

McGinnis+ 


RSM 

Sr. M. Lisa Staudacher, RSM 

John and Erin Ward> 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. 

Regan^ 

Parents & Former Parents 


Bendon Basque ’59+ 

Mr. & Mrs. John R. Beck> 

Mr. & Mrs. Don Bukowski> 

James F. & Edith Harvat 

Caniglia, SJ ’55 

Mr. & Mrs. Brett Frevert+ 

Armand & Mary Rae Metz 

Gibbons ’58> 

Steven J. & Deborah Sortino 

Gradowski ’71* 

Mary Jane Monico Herron ’74^ 

Mrs. Lucille M. Langdon^ 

Michael G. & Ann Franco 

Laughlin ’72 

Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Lilla^ 

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Mihulka^ 

Dorothy Moser McLane, SM 

’49 

John C. & Patricia Knutson 

Nordick ’63> 

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Nystrom> 

Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. O’Brien> 

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Pittman> 

Mr. & Mrs. Hugh J. Reilly> 

Mr. & Mrs. Martin Robinson 

Mrs. Jeanette Slavin 

Gene & Marilyn Spence+* 

Mrs. Valora F. Stewart 

William & Carolyn Anderson 

Taylor ’71> 

Fred & Nancy Bertagni 

Wackerhagen ’73*> 

Thomas G. & Barbara Stoffel 

Walsh ’65> 

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher 

Wheeler> 

Faculty & Staff 

Ingrid Kalinowski Borghoff ’65>* 

Maureen Becka Falcon ’85> 

Ms. Holly McCoy>* 

Sr. Jeanne O’Rourke, RSM 

Mrs. Julie Vankat> 

Alumnae 

1929 

Mount Saint Mary 


RSM~ 

1939 

Saint John 

Margaret Peter Egenberger^ 

1940 

Saint John 

Patricia Mokry Starwyck 

1942 

Saint Mary 

Sr. M. Cabrini Camel, RSM>* 

1943 

Saint John 

Kay Calvert Bohacek> 

1945 

Saint John 

Mildred Gruidel Zadina 

1947 

Saint John 

Jeannine Cooney McNulty>* 

1948 

Saint John 

Theresa Dymak Ponec> 

Josephine Russo>* 

1949 

Saint Mary 

Margaret Conrey Pedersen^ 

Dorothy Moser McLane> 

1950 

Saint John 

Eleanore Tangney Furey 

1951 

Saint John 

Josephine DiMartino 

1951 

Saint Mary 

Bette Skorka Rudloff 

1953 

Saint Mary 

Sharon Palladino Burns>* 

Mary E. Corboy>* 

Stella Nowaczyk Stawniak 

Mary Tanner> 

1954 

Saint John 

R. Anne Wegener Byrne 

1955 

Saint John 

Edith Caniglia> 

1955 

Saint Mary 

Joyce Lampe Connolly> 

Marlene Thell Machal> 

Mary Clare Seward Wilson> 

1956 

Kathleen Kisicki Cook> 

Sr. Therese Randolph, RSM

1957 

Joy Neneman> 

Judith Poetzel Soliz^* 

1958 

Mary Ann McDermott 

Dobrovolny 

Mary Ray Metz Gibbons> 

Mary Pat Smola McCormick+* 

1959 

Rose Marie Bendon Basque+ 

JoAnn Daley Morey>* 

Joyce Ball Mraz> 

Mary Palmesano+ 

Sr. Jeanne Ward, RSM>* 

1961 

Barbara Fonfara Braak> 

1962 

Mary Guziec Mendenhall> 

1963 

Betty Trout Eckley> 

Patricia Knutson Nordick> 

1964 

Bonnie Casey Culhane> 

Marilyn Kocarnik Kearney 

1965 

Ingrid Kalinowski Borghoff>* 

Barb Stoffel Walsh> 

1966 

Marianne Beck Hall^* 

1967 

Mary Tuttle Marasco^* 

Dr. Barbara Slama Ramsey 

Lorray D. Smith+* 

1968 

Tancy Dodson Ellis>* 

Janet Schmidt Tomarkin> 

1969 

Suzanne Grandinetti>* 

Jeanne Kemmy Longenecker 

1970 

Deborah Keating> 

1971 

Deborah Sortino Gradowski>* 

Carolyn Anderson Taylor> 

Lorraine Narducci Whitley 

1972 

Margaret Gorham Carney^ 

Ann Franco Laughlin 

Mary Zenk McHugh> 

Peggy Olechoski Mesenbrink 

Joanne Stewart~ 

1973 

Kathy Bell Jameson 

Christine Zenk Rix 

Nancy Vaculik Smith 

Teresa Vancura Vacanti^* 

Nancy Bertagni 

Wackerhagen>* 

1974 

Mary Jane Monico Herron^ 

1975 

Mary Jo Pitzl^* 

1976 

Shayla Moore Liebentritt 

Mary Anne Fochek North> 

1979 

Judi Reynolds Hand> 

1981 

Catherine Franco Van Haute> 

1982 

Mary Tomcykowski Fox> 

1983 

Victoria Michalski Carpenter> 

1984 

Diane Gunia Blessie> 

1985 

Maureen Becka Falcon> 

Barbara Spence Muellner 

Michele Zach Walker> 

1986 

Tammie Spence Nussrallah^* 

Kelly Nystrom> 

1988 

Denise Matya Barrett> 

Maggie Prusa Stoerzinger>* 

1989 

Jessica Moeschler-Miller> 

1991 

Carrie Zuerlein George> 

Melissa Krayneski> 

1994 

Tracy Hagedorn Bond 

1996 

Jennifer S. Hladik> 

1999 

Stacey L. Larson> 

2002 

Melissa A. Camperud 

2004 

Shannon M. Bopp 

2005 

Jodi M. Hazuka 

Eighth Grade Scholarship Winners 

$3200 / $800 per Year Scholarships 

SMOLA-McCORMICK MEMORIAL 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Ashley Dabbs 

St. Columbkille 

MARY RONCKA URZENDOWSKI MEMORIAL 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Rachel Sortino 

St. Columbkille 

$2000 / $500 per Year Scholarships 

SR. MARY JUSTINE EVANS MEMORIAL 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Hannah Yelinek - Holy Cross 

MSGR JOHN A FLYNN MEMORIAL 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Melinda Bray - St. Cecilia 

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP 

Morgan Herchenbach - St. Columbkille 

JOSEPH & HELEN CLARE MURPHY 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Samantha Dugan - St. Philip Neri 

KUTILEK-MAYER FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP 

Stephanie Stevens - St. Stanislaus 

CHARLES & RENE GARVEY SCHOLARSHIP 

Tayler Beargeon - Mary Our Queen 

COMMERCIAL FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP 

Darian Holmes - Our Lady of Lourdes 

SR. MARY CALLISTA TAKES SCHOLARSHIP 

Rachel Kinzer - LaVista Middle 

CAROLYN A. JAWORSKI PRINCIPAL’S 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Michaela Klamt - St Bernadette 

SR. MARY BRENDAN O’MALLEY MEMORIAL 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Rebekah Menzel - St. Mary’s 

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNAE 

ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP 

Grace Sobetski - St. Thomas More 

27

28 

Young Alumnae Reunite 

Nearly 40 young alumnae gathered on January 5 th to 

reconnect with classmates and teachers at the Young 

Alumnae event. The evening began with a pizza 

dinner in the dining hall, catered by Lansky’s Pizza. 

Throughout the dinner, prizes were drawn for Mercy 

memorabilia. Teachers walked the halls of Mercy with 

the alumnae on the self-guided tours and reminisced 

about Mercy memories and school improvements. 

“It was wonderful to be able to tour the school and 

catch up with former classmates and teachers. I had a 

great time!” said Eileen Sullivan ’02. Stacia Slezak ’01 

said, “It was great to see some computer labs that 

classes could use and to hear that there is a system 

that allows students to work at school and then access 

their work at home. The self guided tour was great in 

that I liked being told I could revisit any part of the 

school (without a hall pass!).” Julie Pentis ’02 said, 

“Mercy looks fabulous. All of the renovations and 

additions are amazing! It was really neat to see how 

much things have changed.” 

L to R: Ms. Cathy Mousel, physical education teacher, Brittany 

Cash ’02, Laura Forbes ’03, Mrs. Chris Dunn, former atheltic 

trainer and Danielle Kreher ‘03 

Memorial Wall Honors Deceased 

Lorray Smith ’67 and Jeff Neary, of Regal Awards, 

coordinated efforts to create the Memorial Wall in Our 

Lady of Mercy Chapel. The memorial wall is a visual 

reminder of those in the Mercy community who have 

been memorialized from 1980 to the present. “The 

memorial wall is a tribute to the Sisters of Mercy, family, 

friends, and loved ones who have gone before us,” 

said Sister Johanna Burnell, president of Mercy. 

Nearly 60 alumnae, family and friends attended 

Mercy’s annual Memorial Mass and reception on 

November 1 st . Fr. Tom Ward led the prayer and 

reflection in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel to honor those 

who have been memorialized. A reception 

immediately followed in the Dining Hall. 

Classmates of 2003 

Back Row: Ashley Shrader, Rose Brennan, Cheryl Swanson 

Front Row: Emily White, Laura Forbes, Erin Mulcahy, Liz Murray 

and Megan Siebrandt 

L to R: Eileen Sullivan ’02 and Erin Mulcahy ’04

Alumnae Chorus begins a New Era of Song 

In 1980, when Mercy High School celebrated its 25year 

anniversary, a group of alumnae who loved to sing 

and wanted to share their talent of singing joined 

together, under the direction of Sr. Catherine Marie 

Franey, to create the Alumnae Chorus. Over 25 years 

later, many of those same women are in the alumnae 

choir today performing at various Mercy and civic 

events. 

In November of 2005, during the conclusion of the 25th 

year for the choir and Mercy’s 50-year celebration, Sr. 

Catherine Marie announced to the group that she was 

ready to pass the baton to a new director, Patti Draney 

Hayden ’78, the choir’s accompanist. “We plan to 

Living Memorials 

September 1, 2006- January 15, 2007 


(Leadership) 

Kitty Kelly Grace 

John Glenn 

William Glenn 

Mandi Glenn ’07 

William Glenn 

Leslie & Elsie Hubrecht 

Irvine, SM ’42 

(60th wedding anniversary) 

Mary Beth Irvine 

Leonard Jaworski 

(90 th birthday) 

Holly McCoy 

Ruth Lonergan Kelly, SJ ’29 

(Christmas) 

Kitty Kelly Grace 

50 th Jubilee 

Sr. Maura Clark, RSM 

Dr. Michon Rozmajzl, RSM 

Sr. Susan Severin, RSM 

Sr. Therese Randolph, RSM 




RSM 



25 th Jubilee 

Sr. Connie James, ND 

Jane Keller 

continue singing together in the coming years because 

we share a love of music and the enjoyment of singing 

together,” said Hayden. “We want to learn some new 

songs, find some new members and sing at some new 

places in the coming year. We would even be happy to 

take on a new director if there is someone who would 

like the experience of directing a friendly group of 

singers.” 

If you, or someone you know, would be interested in 

joining the choir or would like to direct the group, 

please contact Patti Draney Hayden ’78 via phone at 

(402) 597-2798) or by email (phayden@alltel.net). The 

alumnae choir would sing with joy to have you with 

them! 

Back Row: 

Mary Connelly Harrington ’57, 

Pat Brandt Podjenski ’57, Karen 

Vogt Fakata ’63 (hard to see 

her), Jackie Lukowski 

Demkowski, SJ ’53, Maureen 

Greger Bourne ’62, Julia 

Hartigan Kimble ’72 (hard to 

see), Yvonne Buresh Kros ’61, 

Maureen McGrath ’57, Mary 

Lou Nemec Gunia ’67 

October Mercian Corrections 

Front Row: 

Joan Roadruck Fenton, SM ’49, 

Mary Margaret Fenton ’74, 

Danielle Hahn Emsick ’83, Sr. 

Catherine Marie Franey, RSM, 

MSM ’29, Nicole Hahn Jesse 

’80, Elaine Tucker, SM ’49, 

Patti Draney Hayden ’78 

Choir members not pictured include : Sr. Patricia Guziec, RSM, ’58, Rosie Ferrara Matz ’82, Kathy Murnan Pflug ’81, Andrea Armstrong 

McIntosh ’79, Mary Collins Wolf ’88, Loretta Kearney Siegele ’58 

The “Essence of Life” picture was by Jenny 

Sedlak ’07 and not Maggie Waltz ’06. 

Mary Palmesano ’59 is a McAuley Society 

member, not a Mercy Circle member. 

Judith Poetzel Soliz ’57 name was 

inadvertently omitted as a member of “The 

Spirit of Mercy” Lifetime Giving Society. 

Carol Zitur Lang, SJ ’49 was inadvertently 

omitted from the Annual Report, Annual 

Giving, President’s Club. 

29

30 

The Mercy Legacy Society 

The Mercy Legacy 

Society honors those 

who have remembered 

Mercy High School in 

their estate plans through 

wills, life insurance, 

charitable gift annuities, 

or other planned gifts. 

Anonymous (5) 

Rose Marie Bendon Basque 

’59 

Marie Bauer, SM ’35+ 

Victoria Michalski Carpenter 

’83 

Mary M. Carroll, MSM ‘29 + 

Margaret C. Cosgrave + 

John F. Daly, SB ’23 

Sr. M. Justin Evans, RSM, 

MSM ‘22 + 

Msgr. John A. Flynn + 

John J. Franey + 

Bernice McGuigan Gitter, SB 

‘23 + 

Louise E. Gross + 


Jean Hays, SM ’44 + 

Mary Kay R. Hoarty + 

Marie Mokry Jelinek, MSM 

‘24 + 

Harriett Foran Kane, SB ‘24 + 

Father William P. Kearns + 

Msgr. Francis Kenny + 

Mrs. Charles (Anna Louise) 

Kranda + 

Bonnie Lomax Lawler ’66 

Alice Quinlan Lungren, MSM 

’26 + 

William C. Mahoney + 

Sr. M. Bridget Marsicek, RSM 

‘65 + 

Paul L. Martin + 

Sandie Jaeger Mauro ’66 

Dick & Mary Pat Smola 

McCormick ’58 

Edward J. McDonough + 

Is Your Estate Plan Up-to-Date? 

Time is an elusive commodity. When we are young, 

the moments available to us seem endless. As we 

grow older, they become more precious — too few and 

too brief to accomplish all we wish. Of all our 

opportunities, perhaps the easiest to neglect is taking 

the necessary time to analyze our current situation, set 

our personal and financial goals, and create a plan to 

accomplish them. 

The creation of an estate plan recognizes that all of us, 

regardless of age, have needs to fulfill, many of which 

relate to concerns for the well-being of our family and 

those institutions we cherish. Thoughtful consideration 

and planning now will help provide our loved ones a 

more secure present as well as future. Taking the time 

necessary to create an estate plan is the best way to 

ensure that your personal and financial goals are 

achieved for the benefit of your family and those 

charitable institutions important to you. 

Equally as important as creating an estate plan is to 

make certain that its provisions always meet your 

needs and goals. Changes in your personal and 

financial circumstances are excellent reasons to 

review your plans. Other external factors, such as 

recent changes in the tax laws and the rate of inflation, 

are also solid reasons to re-examine your plans. 

Some of the reasons your plan may need to be 

revised include: 

1. A move to another state or country. 

2. Children have grown. 

3. Educational goals have been achieved. 

Rosalie M. Merrick + 

Bessie Nejdl + 

Adelaide M. O’Keefe, MSM 

‘28 + 

Mary Palmesano ’59 

Robert L. & Patricia Zauner 

Paulsen ’56 

Elizabeth H. Peasinger + 

Msgr. Paul F. Peter + 

Mary D. Petrasic, SM ’39+ 

Doris Mehrens Pfeiffer, SJ 

‘39 + 

Shirley Mae Poetzel, SJ ’47 

Grace Aldrich Ringer, MSM 

‘20 + 

George F. Rushart + 

Archbishop Daniel E. 

Sheehan + 

Barbara Jean Smith, SJ ’53+ 

Joseph M. Smith + 


Eugene Francis Sullivan + 

Richard M. Svehla + 

Frances Quinlan Turecek + 

Jennie M. Vojir + 

Reid & Claire Von Tersch 

David & Margaret Zielinski 

Weaver ’61 

+Deceased 

If you have made a will 

and have included 

Mercy High School, 

please notify the 

development office so 

that we may enter your 

name in our Mercy 

Legacy Society. If you 

would like to learn more 

about including Mercy in 

your estate plans, 

please contact Ingrid 

Borghoff, development 

director, at (402) 553- 

9424. 

4. Marital status has changed. 

5. Births or deaths in your family. 

6. Retirement. 

7. Improved financial condition (job change, 

inheritance, lump-sum pension distribution, 

appreciation of assets, etc.) 

8. Significant change in the nature of your estate. 

9. Substantial improvement or deterioration in 

the financial condition of one or more 

beneficiaries. 

10. Increased asset protection from liability 

claims. 

In addition, the state in which you reside may have 

changed its laws, which will have a bearing on your 

plans. Your attorney can help you determine what 

impact these laws may have and what you can do to 

protect your assets. 

Many of you have informed us that you have 

remembered Mercy High School in your estate plans. 

We appreciate your interest and your commitment to 

our mission, and are most grateful for the legacy you 

are leaving to many generations of Mercy alumnae. 

Mark your calendars! To help you better understand 

the importance of planning for your loved ones and the 

charities that are important to you, Mercy High School 

will host an estate planning seminar on Sunday, 

September 9, 2007 at the school. Mass and brunch will 

be included. Watch the June Mercian for more details.

Sisters Of Mercy Celebrate Golden 

Jubilee at Mercy 

Early this fall, three Sisters of Mercy from the “Band” of 

1956 chose Mercy High School as the site for the 

celebration of their Golden Jubilee. Sisters Maura 

Clark, Therese Randolph ’56, and Monica Marie 

Reichmuth took this opportunity to pray and party with 

other Sisters and with family and friends from around 

the country. 

Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Thomas J. Ward, a 

special friend of these Sisters and of all the Sisters of 

Mercy. Following a beautiful liturgy, with music led by 

Sisters Claudette Schiratti ’57 and Jean Adam ’66, 

about two hundred people gathered in Franey Hall for 

a delicious meal prepared by Villa chef John Ahlers. 

Sr. Maura Clark Sr. Therese Randolph ’56 

Sr. Monica Marie Reichmuth 

NCEA to Honor Sisters of Mercy 

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas will be 

recognized by the Department of Secondary 

Schools of the National Catholic Education 

Association (NCEA) (http://www.ncea.org/ ) at its 

conference April 10-13 at the Convention Center in 

Baltimore, MD. The Sisters are being recognized 

for their distinguished contribution to Catholic 

secondary education in the United States. Sister 

Pat McDermott ’66, Institute Leadership Team, will 

accept the award on behalf of the Sisters. 

Big Changes For the Omaha Sisters 

of Mercy 

The Sisters of Mercy, the first religious congregation to 

minister in Nebraska territory, have always had a 

pioneer spirit that has led them to answer the needs of 

the times as they perceive them to be. Now, there is a 

need for the Sisters to conserve their own resources— 

both human and material—so that they may continue, 

with fewer numbers, to serve God’s people. One 

effective way of doing that is consolidation. Soon the 

Omaha Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of 

the Americas will be merged with five other Mercy 

communities. This “new” group will be known as the 

West Midwest Community of the Sisters of Mercy. 

As of July 1, 2008, nearly 900 sisters will join to 

become one group. In addition to Omaha, the merger 

will include Sisters from Cedar Rapids, Chicago, 

Detroit—all Midwestern cities—as well as two cities in 

California, Auburn and Burlingame. This restructuring 

is one aspect of the ongoing strategic plan across the 

entire Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas 

to move from 25 regional communities in to six 

communities. 

The administrative offices will be at the Sisters of 

Mercy headquarters, located at 7262 Mercy Road in 

Omaha. Sister Norita Cooney RSM ’57, vice president 

of the Omaha regional community, said the 

administrative sites of the six regional communities 

were visited and reviewed for possible administrative 

headquarters, but Omaha was chosen because of its 

central location. Sisters in the six regional 

communities will continue their ministries in their 

respective geographical areas. 

“The reorganization will promote the Sisters’ abilities 

to be responsible stewards of their ministries, 

resources, talents, and energy,” said Sister Patricia 

Forret RSM, president of the Omaha Regional 

Community. 

Sr. Mary Ellen Quinn SM’47 

Sr. Norita Cooney ’57 

Sr. Sharon Ford ’64 

Sr. Stella Neill ’60 

31

MERCIAN 

Published 3x yearly by the 

Mercy High School 

Alumnae/Development Office 


Director of Development 

Mary Beacom Emmer ’84 

Alumnae Relations/Special 

Events Coordinator 


Alumnae Association President 


President 

Carolyn Jaworski ’64 

Principal 

(402) 553-9424 

FAX (402) 553-0394 

Web site www.mercyhigh.org 

SAVE THE DATE 

for these upcoming events 

Event Date & Time 

Alumnae Prayer Circle The second Saturday of the month 

9:15 a.m. in the Our Lady of Mercy Chapel 

March 10, April 14 and May 12 

Phonathon March 19-28 

Driving for Excellence Golf Tournament Monday, July 23 

Planned Giving Seminar Sunday, September 9 

Sisters of Mercy Celebration on the Riverfront Sunday, September 23 

All School Reunion Sunday, September 23 

Golden Guild Induction for the class of 1957 Sunday, September 23 

Mercy High School 

1501 South 48th Street 

Omaha, NE 68106-2504 

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 

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Organization 

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March 2007 Mercian - Mercy High School

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