We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved + Sister Mary Charles Vogel Funeral - Tuesday, December 26, 2005 at 3:30 p.m. When you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to God who is in that secret place, and your Abba God---who sees all that is done in secret---will reward you. Matt 6:6 It is appropriate that Sr. Mary Charles Vogel spent her last conscious moments with us during the Christmas season. In one sense she was the “in-house Santa” who delighted in making very creative gifts, table decorations and ornaments for this wonderful season. She herself made most of her patterns for these creations. Born Eva Vogel in Donora, PA , she was one of four siblings, all of whom (Ann, Albert and John) preceded her in death. Her family moved to Bloomfield , and she attended Divine Providence Academy , her first contact with the Sisters of Divine Providence. She always spoke kindly of Sister Annunciata, the Principal, who inspired her to consider religious life. Following her novitiate, in 1931, she began her teaching ministry at St. Norbert's, Overbrook, while still attending Duquesne University , where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Education. She also studied library science at Pitt and did graduate studies at Marquette and the University of North Carolina . She ministered in Pittsburgh Diocesan Schools for almost fifty years, her longest stays being at St. Basil's, Carrick (7 years) and All Saints, Etna (10 years). She was also principal in Etna for a number of years. As a teacher and principal she was strict but she also had a soft side. Her students remember her for being very creative and introducing them to arts and crafts, which later became her hallmark. They also recall that she wished to make sure that each child had a personally crafted present to take to mom and dad for the holidays. Sister Mary Charles described herself, at times, as an “army brat”. She further elaborated that this background created in her a restless spirit. This spirit could only be comforted by an occasional trip to Orlando , Florida while she was still able to travel, where she had friends and relatives who looked forward to her visits. In terms of her spirituality, Sister was a very private person, but was always present for Community prayer and for Liturgy. While she had a strong personality, she also possessed a great sense of humor. My personal image of her is a person in a superwoman cape, which opens to show a soft teddy bear near her heart. Now that heart rests with the God who calls her to a life of eternal creativity in Providence . Feast Day: November 4
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