Wake Reflection ~ February 2, 2007 ~ Sr Irene Hartman OP
The date was December 2, 1916, when Isabel Theresa came to bless the home of Frank and Elizabeth Wasinger Miller. The place was a farm home near Catherine, Kansas, which was already blessed by two older sisters Crescentia and Henrietta. Isabel was baptized the same day she was born; this was in the parish church of St. Catherine. Later a brother Victor made the family complete, but only for a short time for the mother died when Isabel was three years old. For a while she lived with an Uncle John and Aunt Rosie. Three years later her father brought home a stepmother, Pauline; a seven year old step-sister also called Pauline joined the family. Later the family adopted a little girl called Mary Agnes.
When Isabel was seven, she began school in Lost Canyon, a little one-room building which was later expanded to two rooms. The school was only a mile from home, so in good weather the girls walked to and from school; in bad weather the father took them in a buggy or a wagon.
When Crescentia completed the eighth grade, she entered the Dominican postulancy in July of 1927; in December of that year Henrietta followed her into the convent. Isabel surprised her family when she explained after her eighth grade graduation in 1931, "Sunday you can take me to the convent." Her parents gave their full support and began putting together the necessary wardrobe. Dad had only one regret; he wondered who would be his little helper with the cattle, the chickens, and the garden. Stepmother Pauline would miss her little helper, also, who by this time had become very much at ease with culinary arts.
As a postulant, Isabel was sent to the big kitchen where she learned to prepare meals for a large number of sisters. She soon became well known for her expertise in baking plain and fancy breads, cinnamon rolls, and even the lovely Easter lamb cake which she baked and decorated for ordinations and jubilees.
At her investing on March 10, 1932, Isabel became Sister Fridoline, the name she kept until after Vatican II when she assumed her baptismal name of Isabel. She made profession in 1934, and began serving her sisters on various missions as homemaker in Willowdale, Garden City, St. Leo, Garden Plain, Sharon, Hoisington, and Millwood in Wichita. Later she became dietitian in St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, in St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend, and in Sacred Heart Hospital in Lamar, Colorado.
Sister Isabel made final profession in 1938, and celebrated jubilees silver, golden, diamond, and 70th. Her jubilee days were days to remember with deep gratitude the many blessings God had strewn across her path during a very fruitful life.
Sister's reputation as a wonderful bread baker never left her. However, when she was homemaker in the Millwood convent in the seventies, she became interested in learning cosmetology. She took a course and became a licensed cosmetologist and proudly served in this occupation until the next century. She acquired a special expertise in giving a beautiful look to her sisters in community.
She was also given the responsibility for maintenance of the convent fleet. She carried out this position with the touch of a professional. She also served as community chauffeur for the sisters, taking them to out-of-town doctor appointments, to family events, to funerals, parish celebrations, and anniversaries.
Along with her other duties in the eighties, Sister Isabel had the very sad task of caring for her two sisters, Sister Henrietta and Sister Norberta, both of whom were very ill with terminal cancer. She drove them to doctors' appointments, and provided comfort and support in their months of suffering. Sadly she helped dress their bodies after their deaths, and watched their coffins be lowered into the earth.
During her time in the infirmary, Sister Isabel enjoyed playing cards, visiting, crocheting, knitting, and doing embroidery work. She watched TV quiz shows and games of chance. Her retreats were important to her and called her to reflect on the holy; her time of prayer became a time of gratitude for life and a time of waiting to join the family who were already in the heavenly choir. The Master she had served so well came for her on February 5 a few moments after receiving the Sacrament of the Sick.
Dear Sister Isabel, thank you for walking the Dominican way of life with us, for being our much loved sister, for serving community in so many wonderful ways, for being our sacristan and tending our altars, for showing your love to each of us. We will miss you, but we rejoice with you that you can now join those beloved sisters of yours, Sisters Norberta and Henrietta, and your good family. Farewell dear one. Rest in the arms of your God.
