Sr. Mardel (third from left) with Clare Pratt, RSCJ, Brenda MacLean ’63, former Board Chairs Mark Tellini and Marcia Syufy, and Nancy Morris, RSCJ, at a 2014 dedication ceremony held to rename the Mary Mardel, RSCJ Chapel in her honor.
In 2016, filming began for a multi-part film series highlighting
A VIBRANT RETIREMENT
Sr. Mardel’s life and her stories from the school’s early days on
In 2004, Sr. Mardel retired and began residence at the
Broadway. Sr. Mardel spent several days on campus filming,
Oakwood Retirement Center in Atherton. In her retirement
visiting classes and reminiscing about her time at Convent &
years, Sr. Mardel continued her active involvement with Convent
Stuart Hall. That same year, Sr. Mardel, who was influential in
& Stuart Hall. She often attended the school’s annual Mass
creating the school’s archives, returned to Broadway to help
of the Holy Spirit and other special events, remaining keenly
organize and categorize the records. This work facilitated the
interested in school news and affairs. As a speaker for the Class
later relocation and digitization of the archives, ensuring that the
of 2020 commencement ceremony, Sr. Mardel underscored the
invaluable resource she instituted would remain preserved and
school’s continued significance for her personally and for her
accessible for future generations.
fellow RSCJ. Although RSCJ had not been living or teaching at the school during the graduating students’ years on campus, she noted, “I want to assure you that we have been very present with you, both in our prayer and in our love and our interest. … We pray every morning, day after day; we pray aloud for you, our students.”
Two years later, over 400 alumni, faculty and friends gathered on Broadway to celebrate Sr. Mardel’s 100th birthday. After a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday to You,” Sr. Mardel told the guests, “There is so much love in this room that it’s tangible. Now it’s up to us to go out and give that love to others.” She continued: “I want to leave you with one of my favorite
Convent & Stuart Hall has strived to pay tribute to Sr. Mardel’s
quotations from Saint John of the Cross. He said, ‘In the evening
remarkable contributions to the school and institute systems
of life, we will be judged on love.’”
that uphold her legacy and carry on her progress. In 2014, the school dedicated the chapel in Sr. Mardel’s name and established an endowed fund in her honor to support the physical integrity of the chapel and fund mission-inspired activities. In a letter of thanks to President Ann Marie Krejcarek, Sr. Mardel wrote, “There is no way I can tell you what that chapel means in my life. Ever since 1940 to the present, it has always been one of the most sacred places to me. Since yesterday, so many memories have been flooding into my mind — events, graces, precious moments — all connected with that chapel.” It was this chapel that Sr. Mardel later recalled as the last gathering place of her family before her brother Charles left for
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MOTHER MARDEL REMEMBERED Four weeks after Sr. Mardel’s passing, a memorial Mass was held on November 5 at the Flood Mansion. Flowers adorned the Main Hall and the Mary Mardel, RSCJ Chapel, where, fittingly, the service was held. The gathering brought together RSCJ, alumni, current and former employees, past parents and longtime friends. The chapel was filled with the sounds of bagpipes and choral
World War II and never returned home. Sharing this poignant
music as Fr. John Whitney, SJ, conducted the ceremony for
memory at Sr. Mardel’s memorial service, Dr. Krejcarek added,
over 200 guests. A stirring mix of laughter and tears marked the
“So this place held her family. … Her life fills this chapel.”
occasion as guests remembered the joy and love Sr. Mardel
2022 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
