Sister taught at St. James more than 50 years
The last of the School Sisters of St. Francis who were among the first to teach children at St. James Catholic School in Arlington Heights, has died.
Sr. Carmelle Darr passed away Wednesday. The longtime Arlington Heights resident, most recently of Des Plaines, was 82.
"She taught here for over 50 years, and for most of those, in the same room," said the Rev. William Zavaski, St. James pastor. "She dedicated her whole life to this place."
Faculty members and students alike mourned Darr's passing last week. She taught second graders there since 1956, and for the last 12 years she tutored young readers.
"It's the end of an era," said Pat Farrell, religious formation director at St. James. "She's the last full-time nun on staff our children will know."
Sr. Carmelle joined the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1950 before professing her vows in 1953. The Milwaukee-based order of nuns began teaching at St. James School in 1932, 10 years after it opened.
When she first reported to St. James in the mid-1950s, Sr. Carmelle wore a full habit and lived in community in the parish convent. Over the years, she saw many changes, including the closing of the convent prompting her to move into an apartment, and an easing of restrictions, leading her to wear conventional clothing.
"She kept her veil, as a sign of her authority to her students, I suspect," Zavaski added. "But when she stopped teaching, and began tutoring, she shed the veil, too."
This year, Sr. Carmelle made the move with the rest of the elementary grades to the west side of the campus, as part of a 12-year, $13 million renovation and expansion project.
Its dedication ceremony last month signaled a new era, however parish officials reflected fondly on their strong foundation of faith, built by teachers like Sr. Carmelle.
Her colleagues on the faculty remember Sr. Carmelle as a loving teacher, whom alumni constantly sought out upon their return to the school.
"She smothered and mothered them with love," said second grade teacher Dianne Groth. "She made them feel 10 feet tall, and with their confidence grew their ability to read."
They laughed over her love of the Cubs and her help in bringing down the parish's debt: she never missed a Sunday night of Bingo.
"She was a dedicated and wonderful religious," said Sr. Ann Busch, of the School Sisters of St. Francis, "but her heart and joy was at St. James School."
Visitation for Sr. Carmelle will begin at 3 p.m. Monday, May 11 before a 7 p.m. memorial Mass takes place, both at St. James Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.