Sister Mary Socorro Richey, CSJ

Humor dedication and a willingness to do whatever is needed

Porter and Elsie (Hinrichs) Richey, of St. Louis, Missouri, and children Audrey and Chester, welcomed baby Edith Catherine on May 9, 1933. At four and a half and begging to go to school, Holy Trinity, staffed by the Oldenburg Franciscans, accepted her. Later on, deciding not to attend Roch High as her sister did, Edith enrolled at Rosati-Kain where she met the Sisters of St. Joseph. However, after starting at Rosati-Kain, the Office of Education switched her to Laboure, which was closer to her home. In early December, she made an appointment with the monsignor in charge of schools to explain why she should be able to attend the school of her choice. She was successful. The following Monday, she was back at Rosati-Kain.

Edith entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1951, receiving the habit and the name Sister Mary Socorro on March 19, 1952. She had not wanted to be known by her parents’ names, so she asked for Socorro because "Socorro means 'help' in Spanish and [mother] always sent me to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I always had to light a candle and she’d even tell me the prayers I was to say ..."

S. Mary's first missions were in St. Louis teaching primary students at Nativity of Our Lord (1954), then intermediate students at Holy Guardian Angels (1958). Next, she taught at the intermediate level at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Kansas City (1961). A year later, S. Mary was surrounded by God’s awesome gifts in nature and teaching her favorite age group, primary, at St. Mary’s in Littleton, Colorado.

Returning to St. Louis in 1966, she taught primary at St. Edward’s while also earning a degree in home economics from Fontbonne Collage, and LIFE Certification as a nurse aide and in education for the state of Missouri. Realizing that some older students still needed help with the basics, she pursued a master’s degree in education at Indiana University, focusing on becoming a reading specialist. She graduated in 1972.

During this time, in 1968, S. Mary's ministry was teaching reading to the Native American children on the reservation at St. Joseph School in Keshena, Wisconsin. “I would say that of all my community life that would be the happiest of all my community experiences,” she said.

Marie Michael-Rogers of Manchester, Connecticut, was visiting friends at Keshena when she met “Soc," as sister was usually called. They continued their relationship through letters over the years.

I loved my time … on the Menominee reservation. It was such a loving, caring place, I felt so at home with everyone. Soc clearly loved working with the Menominee people ... Soc was a unique and wonderful person.

Sister Mary McGlone, who was also in Keshena with Soc, shares:

Socorro was a servant—as a teacher, as staff at Nazareth —as a person who simply paid attention to those who were in front of her. She had a funny, wry sense of humor and thoroughly enjoyed the fact that one of the gentleman residents she helped care for at Nazareth couldn't remember her name well, so instead of calling her Soc, he called her "Shoe." Soc was a treasure and I am privileged to have known her.

Leaving the reservation in 1978, S. Mary Socorro spent a year at a L’Arche community in Erie, Pennsylvania, assisting mentally challenged adults.

Sister Mary Socorro came home to St. Louis in 1979. While working at Nazareth Convent, she received training as a CNA and ministered for the next 10 years as a nurse aide (1979–89). Then, in 1990, she began an “on the job” internship to be certified as a physical therapist. She continued as a restorative aide through 2003. In 2004, she became a member of the Community Life Staff doing whatever tasks were needed. S. Mary joined the prayer and presence ministry at Nazareth Living Center in 2014.

By Sister Helen Oates