Profile Story: Sister Mary Tarpy

So I think this may be the final version... despite it being nearly 2oo words over the limit our teacher set. I really don't feel like taking anything out of the story since it may take away from the overall theme/idea (believe me, I tried). If you have some free time, sit back and enjoy!

Sister Mary Tarpy: A Selfless Woman

Transformed by a higher calling, Mary Tarpy is still inspired after 65 years in the ministry

By: Kelly Martin

On a warm May afternoon in 2003, Sister Mary Tarpy discovered the power of a random act of kindness – a simple telephone call to a friend.

With living in Columbus, Sister Mary constantly kept in touch with her friends in other cities. On this particular afternoon, she called her good friend and former secretary, Claire Sulter, who lives in Cincinnati. While talking with Claire, Sister Mary knew something wasn’t quite right. Her happy, upbeat friend just didn’t seem like herself. “My husband is very sick,” Claire sadly disclosed. “Jim may be dying.”

What began as a routine call to a beloved friend turned into a sudden realization for Sister Mary – she had to go to Cincinnati. Suddenly 100 miles didn’t seem that far away. Without hesitating, Sister Mary traveled to the Queen City. She had to visit her friend’s husband. “If I can manage my time to help the sick and needy, why not do it?” Mary asked herself.

While most people need preparation in order to suddenly pack up and go somewhere, Sister Mary Tarpy just needs inspiration. Inspiration from family, close friends, and most importantly – inspiration from God.

As a sister for 65 years, Sister Mary has had several powerful, touching moments in her life that have inspired her to do what she does best - help people like Claire who are in need of encouragement and support. Whether she was traveling to historic parts of Italy or teaching children in Cincinnati, these experiences have motivated her to continue serving people throughout her life. As she now looks back at her life, Sister Mary now feels more fulfilled than ever before – despite struggles along the way.

Being in a climate of faith in her household in Columbus, it was easy for Sister Mary to see God’s goodness in her life. “If you believe in God and Jesus, there is another realm of life besides the natural,” Sister Mary said. “I just felt drawn to enter into that realm of life, especially from being around my family.” She knew she wanted to serve others, but it wasn’t until her first Catholic communion that she found out her true calling in life – to serve others through God.

January 6, 1943 is a day Sister Mary has never forgotten. Eagerly putting on her black dress and shoes, she stepped into Mount Notre Dame’s convent as an excited nervousness came over her. She was about to leave her family, but knew God was calling her to something higher.

Ever since that day, Sister Mary has devoted her life to educating students in different states, including Illinois, Wyoming and Ohio. After getting her master’s degree in education at the University of Marquette and at a teacher’s college, nothing was going to stop Sister Mary from doing what she loved – educating people about God’s goodness and traveling around the world along the way.

In 1972, she embarked on a 10 year journey to Rome with 36 sisters in the Notre Dame de Namur community. According to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namurs’ records, the sisters came from all around the world - Africa, Asia, South America, Eurpoe, and Central America. She was the program coordinator of the scripture and theology classes offered in Rome. Being an international community, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur allowed Sister Mary to connect with these other women around the world. While she focused on building relationships among the many different sisters, Sister Mary was also struck by the Italian culture and way of life.

One night in Italy, Mary and other sisters decided to go out to eat at a restaurant. As she looked around at everyone, she saw an unusual, yet moving, sight – families actually conversing at the dinner table. “It was so different than in the United States, where families gather at the dinner table simply to eat – not to actually appreciate one another’s company,” Sister Mary said.

Witnessing these sights made Sister Mary realize the importance of having a strong family support system and is why she values strong friendships. “She knows just the right time to do something small that makes a big difference,” Marie Gemmell, a friend of thirty years, said. “Even a simple call to say ‘hello’ makes all of the difference in the world.” When they arrived back in the states 10 years later, Mary instantly saw the differences in America’s family values just by eating at restaurants. She had not even finished her meal and multiple families had already come in, eaten, and left.

“It seems that many people seem to treat their faith this way,” Mary said. Unlike many people, Sister Mary stops to appreciate life enough to realize her true potential in life. Most don’t seem to fully drink their faith in, as she has done – specifically in the town of Assisi.

In October of 1971, Sister Mary traveled to the town of Assisi, in Southern Italy, with fellow sisters as a part of the eight-month program. On a bright, sunny day, Sister Mary was walking with the sisters to a church in the area – just as it was when St. Francis of Assisi created the inspiring religious song “The Canticle of the Sun.” Their mission: to pick up any nature-object along the way that reminded them of God’s presence.

When they entered the church, the sisters shared the objects which they picked up. One of them described an empty Lucky Strikes cigarette box. The sister went on to explain how this represented one of her addictions that she broke, which eventually allowed her to welcome God into her life. “It was so moving to hear about other sisters’ stories of what led them to the Lord,” Sister Mary said, “It is things like that which keep me inspired and motivated to serve people.” Whenever she thinks about this experience, she knows anything is possible when choosing to follow God’s path. Sister Angela, a former secretary of Sister Mary’s, knows that Mary will do whatever it takes to help someone in their walk with the Lord. “She always thinks of doing the little things for people,” Sister Angela said.

Sister Mary not only has helped people in their walk with the Lord, but she has also helped children succeed in school. It was 1953, her seventh year of teaching, when Sister Mary saw her hard work as an educator pay off. She was teaching the seventh and eighth grade at St. George School in Cincinnati. In her previous years of teaching, she loved to see other kids eagerly listen to her, always willing to learn. But these kids were different.

Not only were they eager to learn, but they also learned quickly. “Nothing is more rewarding than seeing kids quickly absorb your teachings,” she said. “I loved being challenged to come up with new activities for them.” They learned so quickly that Sister Mary had to constantly think of new ways to involve the kids. She eventually was so determined to do this that she created a “patrol court” which promoted safety while crossing the streets after getting off of school buses. “She is so dedicated to helping people any way that she can,” Claire Salter said. “If she wants something done, she will get it done.”

Just as Sister Mary was becoming successful with teaching seventh and eighth graders, she learned that she would be teaching younger children – something she wasn’t exactly expecting. Her mother thought it would be nice for her to live nearby, in Columbus, even though they weren’t able to see each other often. In 1954, Sister Mary agreed to move from Cincinnati to Columbus, where she taught fifth and sixth graders. “I definitely wasn’t happy about how I had to teach younger children since I seemed to work better with the older children,” Sister Mary said. “But I thought it would be nice to be near my mother.” While adjusting to teaching the younger children in Columbus later that year, she found out that her mother was ill with lung cancer. Suddenly teaching younger children seemed to be the least of her worries – she had to stay for her mother. “I think my mother had a premonition that she was going to pass away,” Sister Mary said.

On a warm April afternoon, Sister Mary finally had to face the inevitable - her mother passing away. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur were not allowed to visit family in any circumstance until the mid 1960’s, when the Vatican ordered a reform in many sisterhoods. This was 1954. Sister Mary would not be seeing her mother at the cemetery in Columbus. “This was one of the most difficult challenges I had to face as a sister,” Sister Mary said. “All of my brothers and sisters were there – except me,” she recalls with a grim face.

At her mother’s mass, Sister Mary prayed endlessly. She knew the dedication it took to be a sister of Christ, and this was one test of many, she knew, that she would have to endure. “She makes it seem so easy,” Sister Angela, former said. “Even in the darkest days her light will shine.”

Now retired, Sister Mary lives in the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur convent in Cincinnati where she participates in various activities with other sisters, such as prayer groups and mass. While she is not as active as she once was, one thing remains the same: Sister Mary lives for the unexpected. While some people fear death and unforeseen circumstances, Sister Mary embraces them.

One hundred miles later on that warm afternoon in 2003, Sister Mary arrived at Bethesda North hospital in Cincinnati. As she walked into Jim’s hospital room, Claire’s face lit up with a surprised joy. Claire was not expecting her. She ran up to Sister Mary and embraced her tightly. “I was so relieved to have a friend be with me during those dark days; it is an immeasurable gift,” Claire said.

As she hugged Claire, Sister Mary thought back to her experience in Italy, where everyone was constantly there for one another.  Sister Mary was simply acting in good faith, just as the Italians did with their own families. “I think that’s what heaven will be like,” Sister Mary said with an assured smile.