Sr. Mary McGing

Sr. Mary Eileen McGing OSM, 88, of Wheeling and formerly of Ladysmith, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2010.

As a lay-member of the Servite Third Order and through the encouragement of Fr. Bressette, OSM, Sr. Mary Eileen came to know and love the Servants of Mary, eventually joining the order.

Soon after professing first vows in 1944, she began a career in Catholic education that continued throughout 50 years of religious life.

Sister Mary Eileen McGing was born in County Mayo, Ireland, on June 5, 1921, to Peter McGing and Mary Duffy. Baptized Sarah, she was the fourth of 13 children — five girls: Nellie, Eileen, Mary, Julia, and Bridget; and eight boys: Anthony, Thomas, Patrick, Michael, Peter, John, James, and William. Of her 12 siblings, Eileen has two living brothers in Chicago, and a brother and sister living in Ireland.

As children, Eileen said, “we always had lots of fun.” The large family played together and enjoyed one another.

When she was 20 years old, Eileen went to Chicago to live with an aunt. The aunt had no daughters and her two sons had just gone into the armed services. To help support herself Eileen worked for a family as a maid. When asked if she was ever lonely in the States, she said, “not really, I liked new experiences.”

Eileen wanted to be a Sister. While living in Chicago, she met Servite Fr. Brissette and joined the Third Order of Servites (Secular Servites). She named Fr. Brissette as one of the most influential people in her life.

Fr. Brissette introduced Eileen to Mother Mary Alphonse Bradley. Eileen recalls the meeting well. “Mother said, ‘I’m going to Ladysmith tomorrow, you can come with me.’” Not long after that trip to Ladysmith, Eileen entered the Servants of Mary on Aug. 9, 1942. A year later on Aug. 15, 1943, she became a novice and received the name Mary Eileen. She made her first profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1944.

Her Irish humor surfaced when she spoke of her early religious life. Eileen was sent to teach in Weirton, W.V. immediately after her profession. The pastor of St. Paul’s Parish was Irish and wanted an Irish Sister to teach in the parish school. She later served as principal in Weirton for six years.

Thirty-two of her 52 years in education have been spent in administration, including two years as academic dean at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith. She enjoyed her time at the college, but Sr. Eileen was always partial to elementary school children.

She taught in New Jersey, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In Illinois, she served as principal for 20 consecutive years at St. Domitilla School in Hillside, Illinois. During those 20 years from 1972-92 she was awarded the “Principal of the Year” award by the Archdiocese of Chicago three times. She also received the “Leadership Recognition for Excellence” from the Archdiocese.

Although she retired from her position as principal of St. Domitilla, School in 1992, at the age of 71, the next year she accepted a position in Maywood, Ill., for another five years.

She very much enjoyed teaching and being a grade school principal. She likes children and names helping and working with them as her most satisfying personal achievement. At the same time, she is proud of everything she did.

Eileen’s education included grade and high school education in Ireland. She received a B.A. from De Paul University in Chicago, and earned her masters degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa.. Additional education brought her very close to earning a PhD.

She happily claimed responsibility for recruiting another Irish born Ladysmith Servite, Sister Bridie Kelly. Eileen’s sister was living in England at the time and was making arrangements for Bridie to enter a convent there. Bridie’s family lived about a mile from Eileen’s family. While Eileen’s sister was wooing Bridie to a convent in England, Eileen was on a home visit and encouraged and convinced Bridie to come to the States and join the Servites. Bridie took Eileen’s advice, and is a Servite to this day.

Eileen coped with Alzheimer’s disease at Addolorata. She used to like to knit.

A very positive person, her happiest experience is all of life. She always looked forward to “the last moments of life.”

She would like to be remembered as a person who always enjoyed life and was always happy with what she was doing. Two bits of wisdom she would like to share: “Be satisfied with what comes, and don’t dwell on the bad.”

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at the Servants of Mary Convent with Fr. Jim Bartelme officiating. A Service of Reciprion will be held at 9 a.m., and friends may call after 10 a.m. Burial will be in the convent cemetery.

The Nash-Jackan Funeral Home is assisting with the local arrangements.