Who We Are

Archives Display Features the Cemetery of the Sisters of Charity

As the trees turn muted in color and the drop their leaves, we enter the month of November. This month in the Catholic Church is set aside as a time to reflect on death to new life. The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill pause frequently to remember in a special way our ancestors in the faith, the Sisters of Charity who have preceded us in death and we now recall their lives, their works, and their time with us as we pray that each one may enjoy the blessings of the life to come.

It seems appropriate at this time for the Archives staff to prepare an exhibit featuring the Sisters of Charity Cemetery which is on the grounds of Seton Hill University.

Sister Electa Boyle in her book MOTHER SETON’S SISTERS OF CHARITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (Date of Publication-1946) describes the original plan of the cemetery.

"The cemetery was originally planned to place the graves of the Sisters in circular rows around a central mound, and each sister was allotted her own place in order of priority. In so far as prior order was concerned, the plan was found impracticable; sometimes a space of twenty years in rank separated Sisters who died at almost the same time, and soon great stretches of greensward appeared between the graves. Of late years, priority of rank has been discarded in the burying of the sisters. The circular arrangement has continued until very recently."

To understand priority of rank one must know that as each sister enters the Congregation she is given a numbered place in the Community. These places are often referred to as one’s seniority. For example, sisters who entered the Congregation in 1919 would have seniority rank over sisters entering in 1920. As sisters die, the Community number of each sister changes but her rank in the Congregation remains the same. The only exception to this rule occurs when a sister is elected to the role of Community leader. This sister then assumes the number one and all former community leaders follow in order. In the early days of the Congregation when sisters entered on the same day, the one who arrived first was given the first number and so on. Later the custom changed and all sisters entering on the same day are ranked by age. (Oldest to the youngest)

The graves of Mother Aloysia Lowe and Mother Anne Regina Ennis, our founding mothers, occupy the central mound. Sister Estelle Lowe, sister of Mother Aloysia is also buried there. The other sisters who were the early members of the Congregation are around these graves on the central mound.

The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill were founded in Altoona, PA in 1870 at the request of Bishop Michael Domenec, second Bishop of Pittsburgh. Mother Aloysia accompanied by three other sisters and two novices traveled from Cincinnati to Altoona to begin the new foundation. The Community grew steadily and in a few years the space in Altoona was not adequate. In 1882 property was obtained in Greensburg, Pa and plans for building the new Motherhouse were begun. When the new Motherhouse was completed in 1889, plans for the cemetery were laid out.

The first sister to be buried was Sister Vincent Finnegan. At the time of her death on May 5, 1889 she was the ranking senior sister. Six months later Mother Aloysia who died on December 25, 1889 was the second sister to be buried in the cemetery. The remains of the eighteen sisters who died before the Motherhouse was moved and who were buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Altoona were moved to Greensburg in 1895.

Space does not permit the listing of all the sisters buried in the cemetery. It is the final resting place of each Sister of Charity of Seton Hill who has completed her earthly journey and has joined the Communion of Saints in eternity. Presently there are 838 sisters buried in the cemetery. One sister is buried in Maryland, but a tombstone in the cemetery honors her memory.

As one walks through the cemetery, there are a few graves of persons who were not Sisters of Charity. These persons have significance in the lives of the sisters. These are:

• Reverend John O’Connor (First resident chaplain for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill)
• Reverend Daniel Richard Sullivan (President of Seton Hill - 1925-1931)
• Reverend James Reeves (President of Seton Hill - 1931-1947)
• Reverend William Granger Ryan (President of Seton Hill - 1948-1970)
• Eileen Farrell (President of Seton Hill - 1977-1987)

Of course, the graves of the Sisters of Charity who served as Presidents of Seton Hill (Mother Mary Joseph Havey, Mother Mary Raymond Creed, Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers, and Sister Mary Schmidt) can also be found.

There are others whose lives were significant to the Sisters of Charity and they rest beside the sisters.

• Dolores Daly (a woman who made her home at Seton Hill for many years and served as a receptionist.)
• Reverend N. Albanese (A diocesan priest who was a long time friend of the Sisters)
• Arthur Hutchinson (Carpenter-worked and lived at Seton Hill for many years)
• John S. Vasilchak (Seton Hill was his home and he was a faithful employee)
• Mary O’Friel (A woman who was promised space in the cemetery by Mother Aloysia Lowe)
• Senora De Dardano (Spanish Professor for many years. The college was her home)

Efforts to keep the cemetery beautiful as a tribute to those whose lives symbolize dedication to God and to the mission of the Sisters of Charity are ongoing. A letter to the Congregation in December of 1993 describes major repairs made to 217 of the grave markers as well as re-seeding of the grass and plans for arrangement of future grave sites. Some of the efforts are hampered by mine subsidence in the area.

Three years ago a leveled parking area was prepared for the final commendation of each sister. This area provides a safe and level area for sisters and families to bid their final farewells before the sister is lowered to the grave. Efforts continue to this day and the care of the cemetery often is the subject of conversations by the Sisters of Charity Board of Directors.

One of the most dramatic additions to the cemetery occurred in 1999. In May of that year a memorial in honor of all the American sisters who had been and are missioned in Korea was commissioned by the Sisters of the Korean Province as a gift to the American Sisters as a tribute to the women who exchanged their native homeland and culture for life in and with the Korean people. The sculptors of the memorial are Anna Hoh and Jeff Varilla.

The cemetery is considered by the Sisters of Charity as "Holy Ground." In this quiet space which can be viewed from the windows of several of the resident halls, the sisters often visit to pray in gratitude for these women of faith who spent their lives building a rich heritage of service in education, health care, social service, and advocacy for the poor.

The sisters include visits to the cemetery for special prayer services when gathered for special events such as community Assemblies or Anniversary Celebrations. Several of the Jubilarian groups have included prayer services in the cemetery as an integral part of the day. During these prayers the group members remember those who entered with them who have already completed their journey home.

During the Assembly of 1995 sister processed to the cemetery singing hymns. Once at the cemetery each sister was given a votive candle to place on each of the sister’s graves. The event was spoiled by the fact that the day was cold, windy, and rainy. Most of the candles blew out before reaching the graves. That evening the winds subsided and the night was clear. Several sisters stopped to pray at the cemetery and decided to light the candles. Others joined them. Soon the cemetery was ablaze with hundreds of flickering lights. Sisters came from the residence halls and later as word spread the sisters off campus arrived in cars. Sister Barbara Smelko brought large handbells and at nine o’clock the bells joined the tower bell as it tolled the DeProfundis. The night was quiet, the prayers were gentle. A totally unplanned event became one of the most memorable and profound of the entire assembly.

The theme of the Assembly was "We Come To Tell Our Story." That evening and through the night the Community members, living and dead, were gathered in unity, love, light, and peace. The cemetery is Holy Ground.

The Archives is open daily from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Visits can be scheduled at other times by appointment. For information or to schedule a visit call Sister Louise Grundish, SC, Archivist at 724-853-7948 Ext. 126 or email her at lgrundish@scsh.org.