S. Edna grew up in Cincinnati. She was the eighth of nine children. Her dad was a vegetable peddler, and her mom was a housewife. She grew up in a very religious family, with two older sisters entering the convent (one choosing to leave after Vatican). They were a very close family who went to church every Sunday and played and worked together. Although as a child she did not recognize it, she now marvels at the beauty of her family.
Sister Edna was very shy and introverted growing up. She would run the other way if there was a camera around. In one instance, when it was time for her first communion, her older sister told her boyfriend about it and he hadn’t even realized she was her sister because she was so quiet. He thought she was a neighbor kid that came around occasionally. He ended up buying her a box of candy for the special occasion. She came out of her shell when she entered the convent, and she thanks God she did.
Sister Edna was missioned as a teacher, and she spent a total of 57 years in her ministry. She spent seven of those years in Indiana, 17 years in Ohio and 33 years in Missouri, mostly as an elementary teacher, but also in preschool. She felt her calling was with the younger children and her philosophy was to teach through play.
Although Sister Edna never picked up cooking from her mother, she is an avid baker. She enjoys baking for others. In fact, the month of November is set aside to bake for the annual bake sale here at the motherhouse for Holiday Under the Spires. Her specialties are gingerbread cookies and Boston brown bread.
Besides being known as the cookie lady, Sister Edna is also known as the frog lady. This is because of her strong sense to Fully Rely on God (F.R.O.G.). While on a retreat, she wanted to see frogs that she could only hear in the evenings. While she never saw an actual frog, she found a rock that resembled a frog and had it painted to look like one, so she feels she did see a frog. She continues to live the F.R.O.G. life as she gives everything to God.
Sister Edna is particularly proud to have been invited by the Citizen Ambassador Program to join a group of early childhood educators in China. While there, she attended teacher conferences, visited preschools and enjoyed sightseeing. She was also blessed to make a trip to the town of Assisi in Italy, the birthplace of St. Francis.
Sister Edna returned to the motherhouse in 2015 and has kept herself busy by baking, reading to and visiting other sisters, and can always find something to do. She also enjoys puzzles, sudoku, cryptograms, Rummikub, cards (especially Hand & Foot), and reading.
We are thankful for Sister Edna and what she brings to the community.