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Born to Eternal Life

We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved
+ Sister Pauline Boes who departed this life on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 in the seventy-fourth year of her religious life Age – 90 years, 9 months, 16 days

Funeral – Saturday, January 21, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.

 

“Let the little children come to me. Do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs!”

Towards the end of her life, Sister Pauline would often speak about seeing children in her room. A part of her knew that they were, in fact, not there. But another part of her could not remove them from her sight. The loving consistency with which she would speak of seeing the children, spoke volumes of who she was as a Sister of Divine Providence. For more than fifty years, she dedicated her life to caring for and teaching God's little ones. A couple of her former resident students, for whom she was like a mother, would visit her faithfully. They always spoke so lovingly of the care and attention given to them by Sister Pauline. The sparkle that would come into her eyes during their visits gave further testimony to the fact that she truly loved what she had done with and for them. In the midst of winter in her 91 st year, Sister Pauline was finally freed from the imprisonment of her disease. A few days prior to her death, the harshness of winter relented for a bit, gifting us with a pleasant “January thaw.” Just as gently, her release into the arms of God came in the early evening of January 17 th – two and a half months shy of her 91 st birthday. With Sisters Mary Joan Kerner and Gladys Segovia by her side, she entered into the fullness of Life, for which she longed so dearly.

Sister Pauline was born March 31, 1915 in Johnstown , PA. She was one of eleven children, only three of whom have preceded her in death. She entered the Sisters of Divine Providence on August 21, 1932 . From 1935 until 1949, she served in six parishes in the Pittsburgh area as an elementary school teacher. In 1949, she came to Kingston , where she spent nine years teaching and caring for the Kindergarten children, who lived and studied at Camp Mishannock . In 1963, Sister Pauline moved to Villa Maria in Cohasset, where she lovingly and faithfully cared for Sister Irenaea and Mother Tharsilla until their deaths. During that time, she also commuted daily to St. Bridget School in Abington, where she taught third grade. In 1986, she retired from teaching but she never retired from “Community Service.” In 1989, when her Parkinson's disease began to inhibit her functioning independently, she moved to the Lourdes Center in Kingston , where she maintained an avid interest in the works and ministries of the Community. She always had a project in mind, contributing for several years to the crafts of the Holly Berry Festival at Sacred Heart High School . As long as she was able, she would work on the pieces herself. When that became more difficult, as a good businesswoman, she “directed” the projects and was always pleased to earn some money for the Community.

Truly one of the “pioneers” of the Community in New England, Sister Pauline's mind and heart held so many stories of the early days of the Sisters of Divine Providence in Kingston and Plymouth . Always downplaying the contributions she made to the developing presence of the Sisters among the people, she nevertheless recalled these memories with a certain pride. She was there whenever there was a chore to be done - - especially creative in the very rustic circumstances of the early convent and school. She was there when a site was determined for the new Sacred Heart School . She was there when the woodland road by the camp was transformed into a state highway. She was there whenever she was needed and she always fulfilled her responsibilities with thoroughness and perseverance. This spirit of determination remained with her throughout her life. In her days of diminishment, her body may have been inhibited but her strong spirit remained alive and active. Whenever it was at all possible, Sister Pauline would join the Community for the morning Eucharist. During the day, she prayed faithfully for all the needs recommended to the Sisters. Always loving the rosary, this became even more meaningful when her eyesight began to fail, making reading more difficult. She enjoyed praying along with the audiotapes of the rosary. These recordings were a great comfort to her in her last days.

Ever devoted to her loving family, Sister Pauline enjoyed their yearly visits to Kingston . In recent years, when the trip became too difficult for them, they would keep in touch by phone. At times, when it was too difficult for Pauline to speak to them directly, one of the Sisters or nurses would be the “go-between.” Her brothers or sisters would never end a conversation without a warm expression of gratitude for the care that was being given to their sister. Gratitude was truly a Boes' family trait. Sister Pauline repeatedly thanked all those who took care of her, apologizing for “all the trouble” she was. It was not easy to convince such a loving and deserving woman that anything done with and for her was a joy! Her patience and long-suffering, her quick-witted ways, and loving devotion to the Community were truly worthy of admiration. Last spring, as she lay on her bed, unable to get about, she encouraged Sister Mary Joan, her faithful caregiver and “partner in planning,” to talk to her good friend and former student Kevin, about getting just the right tomato plants for the coming planting season. Always interested in new life, whether it was a new shoot on one of her many beautiful plants or the well-being of the young Sisters in the Community, Sister Pauline truly lived until she died. She shared a unique bond with Sister Gladys, trusting her developing nursing skills. She knew that they were guided by love. She cherished Gladys' early morning visits on her way to school or to the hospital, praying for her safety and success.

Sister Pauline will be greatly missed by all of us who knew and loved her. We are comforted in the assurance that she is now at peace, freed from the sufferings that bound her for so many years. Surely she will be tending the mosquito and tomato plants in the heavenly gardens - - while she intercedes for her countless loved ones and friends who were richly blessed to have shared in her life. May she live in peace!

Birthday: March 31
Sister Claudia Ward

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