Grace Lee Morse
January 19, 1907- April 19, 1998
When Vivian Coulon was in first grade, Grace Morse was her teacher. One day near the end of the school year the child was in tears. "What's the matter?" asked the teacher. Vivian was to receive a prize for perfect attendance, but only if one of her parents would come to the school picnic. Her mother was at home having a baby. Her father was piloting the ferry boat across the river. Miss Morse said, "Don't worry. I'll be your Mama." The day turned happy; the prize was won. It was almost time to go home when the sky grew black and clouds burst over the park. There was a wide river of mud between them and the streetcar. Miss Morse said to Vivian, "Now what will we do? I know. You carry my shoes, and I'll carry you." The little girl never forgot. From that day forward she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She became in fact a sister, and a world leader of the Marianites of Holy Cross. Her inspiration was the gentle teacher who carried her in her arms when she needed a mother.
Grace Lee Morse was born in Algiers on the West Bank of the Mississippi River from New Orleans, on the hundredth birthday of Robert E. Lee, for whom she was named. She was the sixth child, fifth daughter of Isadora Kevlin and Matthew Morse. She was twenty when her youngest brother died at eighteen, and if it caused her to think deeply about life and death, no one knew, for she almost never spoke of herself or her thoughts. She was reserved; her words though few, were worth the listening.
Her mother's brother was a doctor, and Grace remembered riding in the buggy when her uncle was making house calls. The mother missed out on the educational opportunities given to boys in the large family, and determined her daughters should have the best education available. Grace finished Holy Name of Mary parochial school in Algiers, then took the ferry across the river to McDonogh High School, where she could walk from the boat landing. Later at "City" Normal, she earned a lifetime teacher's certificate shortly before her nineteenth birthday. Grace taught eleven years in public school before entering the convent. After beginning as a primary teacher she attended summer school, first at Tulane, then at Loyola where she observed Dominican sisters studying, and experienced the call to religious life. She entered at age twenty-nine, receiving the name Mary Regina; she had a tender devotion to the mother of Jesus.
After finishing a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Loyola, she went to Catholic University of America where she earned an MA in American History in 1951. Sister Mary Regina taught at Our Lady of Lourdes, a model school, as a postulant in 1936, and soon became known for excellence.
She served in a variety of ministries of the Congregation for fifty-two years before retiring to the motherhouse. Twenty-two years were in the parochial schools, including six as principal. She is remembered as a good superior. She taught five years at St. Mary's Dominican High School, and ten years on college level, including six at Rosaryville. One of her former students recalls that "She could really make history come alive!"
At St. Mary's Dominican College she enjoyed working in the library. One of her rarely voiced regrets was the loss of the library when the college was sold in 1984. Her versatility was tested when she was tapped at Seventh Ward Hospital as Supervisor of Maintenance, and later as assistant for medical records. In 1976 she served as secretary to the superior general until 1980, when she briefly retired. Early in 1981 she was one of the founders of Place Dubourg in LaPlace, LA, where she served as supervisor of housekeeping until 1985 when she retired to the motherhouse.
The motherhouse had commissioned a Stations of the Cross behind the chapel. It is considered by some to be modern art, and not so popular with her generation. But Regina was unique. She found the booklet done by the artist, Mark Schenthal, studied it until it became familiar, and made the artwork her own.
She was almost ninety when she asked at table one morning a question she had saved up, "Sister, can you give me a definition of 'cyberspace?' It's all through the papers, and it's not in any dictionary." The sister had trouble defining it, until months later, when she returned from a conference where a working definition was supplied. On hearing it, Regina said, "Well, your trip was worthwhile!"
Sister Mary Regina was sensitive, reserved, brilliant; she had a sharp, dry wit, and a saving sense of humor. She walked a long journey, always caring. She made us laugh, and we knew her as so very good. We will remember her with love and gratitude. As Dominicans have said through the centuries upon receiving a treasure, "Blessed be God in his gifts!"
