Sister Mary Edith Droz, OP
Date of death: August 4, 2004
Sister Mary Edith Droz, OP, died Wednesday, August 4, 2004, in Puerto Rico. She was just a few days away from her 86th birthday. Below is the eulogy given at her burial liturgy in Newburgh.
In the gospel account preceding the feast of Saint Clare, we hear Jesus saying to his friends how hard it will be for those with riches to enter the realm of God. Today’s readings have Peter saying, “We have left everything and followed You.” But the Jerusalem Bible simply has Peter saying, “What about us?”
What about us? You and me. Do we believe that we have received the hundredfold now as Jesus promised those who would follow Him? Or do we believe we have received only the “with persecutions” that has also been promised?
While you ponder these questions let me relate to you briefly the story of our Sister Mary Edith who truly believed she was receiving that hundredfold.
Eighty six years ago today, August 11, 1918 a tiny baby girl was born to Charles Droz and Edith Powers in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Shortly after, the baby was baptized and received the name Eileen Margaret. This was our Sister Mary Edith whom many of you have known, as I shall show later, only in name.
Sister’s father was born in Switzerland and her mother was born in England. They were married in Somerville, Massachusetts. A son, Frank, was also a member of this family.
Our records show that Eileen received a BS in Physical Education from Boston University in 1941. She became the physical education teacher at Mount Saint Mary Academy in 1942. It was in these days that she became interested in the Dominican Sisters. She entered the novitiate in October 1944, received the habit in June 1945, made her First Profession in June 1946 and Final Profession in August 1949.
From 1946 until 1956 Sister taught in New Haven, Connecticut; St. Mary’s High, Gloucester, New Jersey; Pope Pius XII High in Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and Bishop Dunn Memorial here Newburgh. It was during these years that she obtained her MA from Villanova University.
Forty-eight years ago Sister was assigned to Convento San Jose in Puerto Rico to teach Biology and Religious Studies. In order to enhance her religious studies classes, she obtained another MA from Providence College in 1970.
In 1973, Sister became a heart patient, a condition which forced her to do part time work for the rest of her life, almost thirty years. Let me read to you in her own words written during her recuperation period in 1974 “I am most grateful to all who have prayed for me during these months. It has been a great privilege to have so much time for prayer. I had always wished I had more time for prayer, but never expected God to grant my wish in quite this way. However, I have tried to make good use of the opportunity, praying especially for my Congregation, trying to embrace the whole world in my prayer, as well as my relatives, friends and myself. I also had the time to read and study more deeply about St. Dominic and his spirit and to broaden my knowledge of theology and scripture. So, all in all, it has been a year out of the active apostolate but not a year wasted.”
Now let me read to you what, on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 1994, the people she served in Puerto Rico wrote: “In 1956 a humble and smiling Sister Mary Edith arrived in Villa Caparra to inaugurate the high school at ASJ, teaching various subjects in the first ninth grade. Later she specialized in science and religion. Her goal has been to bring her students to the love of Christ that she herself lives daily. As a woman of prayer she exudes a peace that attracts people who find in her a model of serenity and patience, a profound faith that makes her always available to lend an ear, the perfect friend on whom one can depend.
“At Academia San Jose Sister Mary Edith founded the Prayer Club. She has served in the parish as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. Her deep love for animals exhibits a warmth that makes the homeless and the hurt feel wanted and protected. Her skill in the violin lifts her spirits to give praise to God. The beauties of creation find a way to sing in the depths of her soul.
“Sister Mary Edith, a woman of peace who knows how to soften the harshness in life, a woman of prayer who enjoys intimate union with God and who knows how to share that union with others, a religious for our time.”
Sister Mary Edith your life has shown that you did believe in the hundredfold we could receive in this life and we pray that you are continuing to share this in your new life with Jesus and our Dominican sisters who have gone before us.
But what about us? You and me. For those who do not understand, no words are possible; for those who do understand, no words are necessary.
Sister Anne Gilson, OP
August 11, 2004