By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
Former Visitation School Board President and alum Julie Sparacino Gihl offers a hug to former teacher Mary Ann Bauernfeind. Both were all smiles, standing alongside a picture of Sister Thomas Leo Monahan at the entrance of the reception held in the school’s Valentino Center.
Hundreds of friends, family, teachers and alumni showed up to the Visitation Parish grounds on Sunday, June 13 for a Memorial Mass and reception celebrating the life of longtime Visitation School Principal Sister Thomas Leo Monahan. Sr. Thomas Leo served the Catholic School for 40 years, passing away on Nov. 13, 2020 at the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse in Michigan.
A concelebrated Mass was held at Visitation Church on Sunday with multiple priests and deacons participating, as well as members of the Knights of Columbus. Following the Mass, the Shannon Rovers led a procession that stopped to reveal a new Sr. Thomas Leo Way street sign that runs through a driveway connecting York St. to Kearsage Ave., alongside the Visitation convent. The procession continued to the school and into the gym inside the Valentino Center, where a reception and school tours took place.
Several dignitaries were on hand, including Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin, who proclaimed Sunday, June 13 “Sister Thomas Leo Day in the City of Elmhurst.” DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni, State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi and York Township Clerk Tony Cuzzone, who also chaired the committee that planned the event, all read proclamations honoring the late Sister, demonstrating how well known she was throughout the entire Elmhurst community, DuPage County and beyond.
Sister was remembered fondly by those who knew her for her fairness, dedication to the students, her belief in the “Holy Spirit,” and especially her dry, witty, and timely sense of humor. Many shared stories in the weekend bulletins leading up to the event, as well as during a brief open mic session at the reception.
