Sister James Patrick Corbett

Caring, humble, a hard worker, loved to entertain

Harry and Elizabeth (Quigley) Corbett of St. Louis, Missouri, having previously welcomed sons Harry and Glen, were delighted to greet a daughter, Rosemary Adeline, on October 18, 1926. Th e youngest son, James Patrick, later completed the family. Th e four children attended Sacred Heart School on St. Louis Avenue (where the History Museum now stand) where they were taught by the Sisters of Loretto. Rosemary remembers happy times playing with her brothers, especially the summer activities that included roller skating, swimming and the freedom of a near-by park. Her high school years were spent at Alphonsus Rock, staff ed by the Notre Dame Sisters. Th ere she made friends with several classmates that truly became “friends for life.”

Rosemary worked at the Federal Reserve Bank for a year before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1946. She received the habit and the name Sister James Patrick on March 19, 1947. (Her aunt, Sister Evarista Quigley, had been her connection to the Sisters of St. Joseph. Many years later, another family member entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, a cousin, Sister Kathleen Karbowski.)

Sister James Patrick spent 41 years teaching primary children, beginning briefly at St. Joseph Home for Boys (1949) followed by St. Anthony of Padua the same year, both in St. Louis. In 1950, she taught at St. Elizabeth’s in Kansas City. While in Kansas City, she graduated from St. Teresa’s College (1958). Th at same year, she was assigned to St. Francis de Sales in Denver, Colorado. The year 1966 found her in Wellston, Missouri, at Notre Dame de Lourdes. She returned to St. Anthony of Padua in 1972. Her teaching career ended where it started, at St. Joseph Home for Boys, teaching primary students in 1979. She was a tutor there until 1988.

S. James Patrick said she enjoyed all her missions but was quite fond of her time in Colorado. Th e sisters often made trips to the mountains and were fortunate to use some of the parishioners’ summer places from time to time. One of her fondest memories from all her years of teaching primary students was the opportunity to prepare many children for their first communion. Th at gave her great joy.

In 1988, S. James Patrick began to work in the Province Treasurer’s Office (currently the Finance Office). Sister Jean Paul Selissen recalls:

Sister James Patrick could always be counted on for a funny story, many of which came from her years of teaching. She was always very proud of her brothers who served in WWII. One of those brothers was at Iwo Jima and was in the picture of the famous fl ag raising.

Sister Helen Oates was also in the office at that time and remembers:

S. James Patrick loved all things Irish—including speaking with an Irish brogue! Entertaining those of us who worked with her seemed to bring her joy—and there were so many stories! Yet she took seriously any task that was asked of her no matter whether it was tedious counting out of something for every sister or fi ling or the more enjoyable task of delivering items to other departments where she could bring a bit of laughter along with the item.

On December 30, 2004, S. James Patrick retired from the Finance Office. She and her longtime housemate, Sister Catherine Mary Boucher, prayed together and spent time making craft items for family and others. S. James Patrick also liked to read, crochet and put together scrapbooks. In 2006, both of them moved together to Nazareth Living Center to join the prayer and witness community. They also continued to keep busy working in the sewing room and making craft items.