Remembrances from Sr. Josephine

The following quotations are from a small handwritten collection made by Sister Josephine Di Biase (1930-2013) and found after her death in her room:

“The education of children depends less on the spoken word than on the living examples set by the teachers themselves.” Thomas Merton

“Be patient with everyone but above all with yourself.” Saint Francis de Sales

“The opportunity to do great things for God does not come very often, but at every moment we can do little things with great love.” Saint Francis de Sales

“Love is our reason for living. Love is our reason for giving.” (not identified)

Photo of Sr. Josephine with Michelle, a nurse in our infirmary.

Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM

More thoughts about Sr. Mary Josephine

Last week we shared a message on two days about Sister Mary Josephine DiBiase, VHM. Sister died in our infirmary on April 25th and her funeral was held in our chapel on April 30th, enabling family members to be present. Sister Josephine, born in Fairmont WV in 1930, was a graduate of Fairmont State University. For 11 years she taught in an elementary school in Loudon County VA. In 1963 she became a member of the Georgetown Visitation community and in 1968 transferred to a Visitation community where there was an elementary program for boys and girls: De Sales Heights Academy in Parkersburg WV. Noted for her skill in teaching reading, she taught there for 23 years. Most recently she was a member of the Visitation community in Wheeling WV for five years and since 2010 has been here at Georgetown. The following is an excerpt from the homily given by Father Charles Currie, SJ, at her funeral:

“Teaching little children is so important, especially in the earliest years when their precious spontaneity and creativity need both channeling and nourish- ing... Teaching reading is a special vocation in itself...What a gift, for a child or an adult, to be able to read, to have the excitement of words bouncing off a page... Sister Josephine made that kind of revelation possible for children for 23 years in Parkersburg WV. Think of what so many women and men today owe to her.”

Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM

A Truly Faithful Visitation Sister

As we bid a final farewell to our dear Sister Josephine who left us in a hurry yesterday to meet her loving God, our thoughts are filled with the beauty of her life - a life which mirrored our Salesian virtues in so many different ways.

Sister possessed the virtues of humility and gentleness to perfection. Her simplicity in meeting the events of each day was refreshing while her genuine acceptance of God's will in the challenges of her life inspired us all. She was not one to complain; on the contrary she always expressed a lovely spirit of gratitude.

Perhaps her greatest gift was her selfless and loving care of one of her Sisters in Parkersburg; a Sister whose physical condition demanded a tremendous amount of support. Sister Josephine was always at her side and gave of herself unstintingly as she ministered to her Sister until her friend's final days.

One of the graces of living in community life is the joy of experiencing the everyday holiness of our Sisters. Our gratitude for the example Sister Josephine offered us of the power of holy living will long remain with us.

Requiescat in pace, dear Sister!


Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM

Passing of a Gentle Soul

Sr. Mary Josephine DiBiase, VHM, died this morning on the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. Below is a photograph of her with Sr. Rose Wangui. She was 83.

She originally entered the Monastery here in Georgetown, but later moved to our house in Wheeling, West Virginia. After that closed, she and the other Wheeling sisters returned to us in Georgetown. She taught elementary school for many years.