Ida May Fuhr was one of four girls; her unfailing sense of humor was a gift from her father. Ida May was a 1916 graduate of Notre Dame de Bon Secours (later Redemptorist Girls') High School, joining the Dominican Sisters in 1924, after studying shorthand in Chicago and then working as a secretary. Her "group" included Srs. Mary Rita Melanson, Charles Sellers, the late Sisters Mary Paul Schneckenberger, Reginald Warner and Alexaidia Trouard. She taught at St. John the Baptist, St. Matthias, St. Leo, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Peter and Holy Ghost, after which she became ill for a year and a half.

She completed her work for the B.S. in Business Education in 1939 after eleven years of Saturday classes and summer school, and began teaching in the Business Education Department which she founded; she began graduate work at LSU in Baton Rouge in summer 1940.

At the vigil, where the sisters gather to pray evening prayer and share memories with family and old friends, she was remembered by her sisters as confidante, trusted keeper of secrets, master-listener and special friend. Her physical constitution was frail, yet she had incredible stamina and accomplished herculean tasks in the most unobtrusive way. She was always at your service, whoever you happened to be. Sister Mary Damian Cazale recalled her approach to summer school at LSU, beginning graduate work at a fairly advanced age under some adverse living conditions. Her simple dedication and good humor inspired the younger sister-students.

Some who read the obituary were astonished at her professional achievements, both locally and nationally. Home folks may have been encouraged by her own self-effacing but endearing way to take her not so much "for granted" as "to heart." Witness this homely verse, found in her file (she herself put it there!), which may be traceable to her devoted student, Sister Mary Jane Birrcher, and which touched a chord of response when read by Sr. Therese at the vigil:

There is a little lady who's been around here for a while
Her demeanor is so quiet, yet you never miss her smile.

Today we honor her specially as we celebrate FIFTY miles.
Most of which have been with us, in and out of many files.

We could call her our "odds and ends" friend, or maybe a phone service deluxe.
Yet perhaps she's our listening queen, for time she gives so much.

Sister, fifty years of service is your life to Him,
Twenty-five of which you've been our Secretary Gen.

So we say thanks today for all that you have done.
Now take this new typewriter and continue to have fun!

Sister Mary Liguori was every sister's cherished friend. There will never be another quite like her. Sister Dorothy Dawes, among those who loved her tenderly, invokes her as St. Mary's own patron saint of the archives.