The Nun Study: Wake Service
Educators to the End

Wake Service :

The author recently had a conversation with a
95 year old Nun Study participant, S. Carla Koestner, SSND.

S. Judy: Can you describe some of the evaluations of the study?

S. Carla: Yes, they show you names of ten objects and then several minutes later ask you to repeat them, watch how you walk and follow directions, etc.

S. Judy: “What a great gift it is to give your brain to science!”

After a dismayed look this former math and science teacher said with a quizzical smile:

S. Carla: “What’s left of it!”

As we parted I asked what she thought her next step was. Without a moment’s hesitation she laughed and said: “The cemetery!”

Death and new life give focus to all the events in between. The spirituality of the School Sisters of Notre Dame encourages viewing death as moving toward a deeper relationship both with a loving God, those who have gone before us, and those we leave behind. This Communion of Saints offers continued consciousness of our departed Sisters. Our Catholic liturgy reminds us that “Life is changed, not taken away,” for death is seen as our ultimate act of worship. In this context reflect on the Wake Service. To view a copy, click HERE or on link at right.