Sister Evelyn Smith, CSJ

 We join in prayerful remembrance of the life and goodness of Sister Evelyn Smith, formerly Sister Mary Antolina, a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 fruitful and happy years.

Evelyn loved life and she was particularly grateful for the community she, the CSJ’s and Cenacles shared with the CIJ’s ~ the Congregation of the Infant Jesus at the Villa  ~  Daily life was a lived reflection of our charism uniting all in God’s love in ways that truly mattered.  Add a cat named Joey to the mix and it was heaven!

The friendship that Evelyn shared with Helen Rooney, evidenced in selfless, faith-filled sacrifice and presence was an anchor and mutual gift.  They were there for each other rooted in a profound love of God and neighbor.

I have the honor of sharing Helen’s reflection of her dear companion and lifelong friend using the lyrics of the beautiful song, ~ The Summons ~

REFLECTION

The Summons

Lyrics:  (Sung)

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown?  Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Even before the song was made, Evelyn lived the summons from her God

Initially through the love, faith and values instilled by her Mom and Dad, Ann and John Smith.  Then by her sister Dotty, brother John and their children.  Ev had a tight-knit social family with many family gatherings of immediate family, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended members and coworkers, friends.  What a social network.  This village was a true community of support and love.

At age 20, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph.  Evelyn’s family were Ukranian Greek Catholics and she had to obtain special permission “to enter the Novitiate of the Latin Rite Community of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood” and the cost of the paperwork granting permission was $5, well-worth it!  She entered on September 8, 1954.  Her life, her Summons was lived on a deeper level in community life, for she trusted in the Spirit in all her ministries.  She began as a teacher in the primary grades, then 7 and 8.  After she received her Fordham University doctorate, she taught Clinical Social Work at the graduate level and supervised field placement mentors to the students.  As a clinical therapist, Evelyn touched many lives with hope and healing.  You know that better than I do.  She was so totally confidential, that in Blessed Sacrament, Valley Stream, my secretary saw her for three years, and she was the one who told me how wonderful Evelyn was – it was a ministry she loved and lived for 20 years.  I can only imagine the stories people have.  Her last ministry was in Brentwood, our own medical insurance office.  When I asked her why she said yes to that position, she answered, “Helen, I just want to serve my sisters.”  And she did so with great joy, loving every minute of it.   I believe many of us who contacted her were happy also; no issue brought to her was ever a problem. Evelyn put sisters at ease not to worry about insurance, they had more important ministries to live.

 Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Yes, Evelyn was open to God and God used her to touch lives!

I was blessed with the gift of living with Evelyn for over 50 years; in joy and sorrow, in good times and bad.  She modeled for me the vocation of a Sister of St. Joseph.

She lived simplicity over want, generosity over greed, hope over defeat, healing over suffering, joy over sorrow.  She always saw the positive over the negative and challenges as growth.  Her life was an active prayer, open to the God she heard in the silence of her heart – but active in her reaching out to others.

During these last years, she lived the passion, years of great suffering; always in pain but never a negative word.  I was the one who questioned, Why?  And she would say, “Stop it, Helen.  It is in God’s plan somehow.”

Last week, the God she loved deeply welcomed her home.  I ask each one of you to reflect on a memory you have of Evelyn.

Let that memory be the living of her Resurrection –  for she showed us how to live, how to die and through her memories, how to Rise in the love of Christ.

(Sung)

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Helen Rooney, CSJ

Sister Evelyn Smith, CSJ died on October 5, 2024 in the 70th year of her religious life.