Villa celebrates 100-year milestones with tree plantings, birthday party

God’s gift of abundant life bestowed upon two FSPA—Sister Mary Rohlik and Sister Amata Lukas—was celebrated with tree planting ceremonies on May 7, 2009, at Villa St. Joseph.

Family and friends gathered for a Scripture reading and blessing around a river birch tree as Villa staff planted it in honor of Sister Amata, who passed away in April 2009 but “who lived on this Earth, this earthly place of beauty, for 100 years,” said Villa Administrator Sister Jean Michael Treba. She remarked that the particular variety of birch planted for Sister Amata displays cinnamon-colored bark known to peel, and is “beautiful in summer and in winter.” Sister Amata’s nephew and his wife were among those who chose to step forward and shovel dirt around the tree, securing it into place on the Villa front lawn. “May this tree give to all who look upon it the gift of life renewing beauty,” concluded Sister Jean Michael.

With buds that emerge crimson in the spring and evolve into leaves of burnt orange by fall, Sister Mary’s prairie fire crabapple tree was planted next. Sister Jean Michael invited God to “come and place your blessing of life upon this tree. May its beauty remind us that in the end, it is beauty that will save the world.” Surrounded by her fellow FSPA, family and friends, Sister Mary replied with a “thank you” and then took hold of the shovel herself to help fill in the earth around the tree. As a postlude to the ceremony, participants sang How Great Thou Art.

The milestone for which Sister Mary’s tree was planted was also cause for celebration on that beautiful spring day—her 100th birthday (celebrated a few days early due to the Villa jubilee held on May 12, her actual birthday). The tree planting party moved into the dining room filled with Villa residents and staff to sing Happy Birthday, enjoy cake and reminisce about Sister Mary’s life. Sister Jean Michael shared with the group that Sister Mary had been a teacher, and she referenced a picture of a tablecloth, adorned with Sister Mary’s needlework, which was displayed at the party. Retelling a story imparted earlier by Sister Mary’s cousin, Sister Karolyne Rohlik, Sister Jean Michael revealed that Sister Mary enjoyed Friday night dances when she was in high school, and was engaged before she came to the convent.

Sister Marydel Bissen read a poem she wrote that concluded, “You have turned a century now of years among us all. God bless your every moment, Sister Mary Rohlik.” Sister Rita Marie Bechel remarked on Sister Mary’s creativity, and that she had made crafts for the Villa gift shop for years. Her next-door neighbor, Sister Pat Sheridan, expressed gratitude to Sister Mary for her unwavering humility. “I push her in her wheelchair often and when I get to the door she never fails to turn around and say ‘Thank you.’ It’s worth a million.”

Villa massage therapist Sharon Chavolla also thanked Sister Mary for the opportunity she’s had over the past several years in their therapy sessions to partake in Sister’s “terrific memory” and storytelling abilities. “Sometimes they’re stories of real life and most often they’re stories of books that she’s reading. She has these little, teeny cheat sheets on which she writes only dates and names and places and from there she embellishes an hour of wonderful stories. She’s truly Franciscan because these cheat sheets are made on little scraps of paper that are secondhand.” Sharon revealed that Sister Mary writes between the lines and in the margins and many times she stops the story to give her own opinion of the characters’ life decisions.
“If she thinks it was funny she gives a holly, jolly laugh and her whole self rocks,” said Sharon. “I’m very grateful for having this opportunity to spend time with you, Sister Mary. Thank you.”

As the cake was cut and passed around, Sister Mary said “Thank you all for coming and sharing this afternoon with me. God bless you all.”