Sister Cordata (Catherine Loretta Dunn), 89, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, for 69 years, died on April 10, 2008 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, PA. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated there on April 15, 2008.
Born just short of ninety years ago in Philadelphia, Catherine was one of eight children of Thomas and Hannah Dunn. From a young age,she was told that she was born with a “veil” over her face, technically a caul. Legend has it that this was considered good luck but her mother took no chances and had her baby baptized when only four days old! Catherine often wondered whether that veil was a symbol of her vocation.
Taught by sisters at St. Bridget’s in East Falls, Catherine said ”All I know is that I was in awe of the sisters, charmed as well as awed, and I loved school so much that I thought it would be wonderful to become a Sister of Saint Joseph. “ She held onto that dream through high school at John W. Hallahan High School but when she was a junior, her father died suddenly. She felt obliged to help support the family and went to work. At the age of twenty-one she applied and became Sister Cordata.
Sister Cordata loved studying and teaching history. A graduate of Chestnut Hill College and The Catholic University, Sister was well prepared to teach students in both elementary and secondary schools in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well as in the dioceses of Allentown and Camden. Her entire sixty years in active ministry were dedicated to the ministry of education that she loved so dearly and did so well. She became a resident at the Villa in 2000.
In her Living History, Cordata reflected on the difficult times and situations that she experienced in her life. Through the years, she supported her siblings and their families as they dealt with illnesses and loss. She noted that the dramatic changes in the Congregation after Vatican II challenged her, but during that time, she came to accept things more easily, to trust in the Lord more often and to find herself less worrisome about the trivial events in her daily life.
The love affair with the Sisters of Saint Joseph that began with the symbol of the veil continued through the years. For her, fidelity was a way of life. On April 10, the day of her death, John’s gospel read,” No one can come to me unless the Father draw her, and I will raise her up.” Cordata responded then as she had responded in life-completely and wholeheartedly. Thank you, Cordata, for the gifts of your laughter, your great heart, and your entire life! |
