Last sister at ‘The Mount’
At one time, about 20 Sisters of Mercy walked the hallways of Mount St. Mary High School. Most of them lived there.
Among them was Sister Betty Elmer, a young woman born and raised in the “wheat fields of Kansas,” who had a calling from God and a passion to teach.
The Sisters of Mercy have always maintained a presence at the school, ever since its beginnings 115 years ago as Mount St. Mary Academy for young ladies.
That changed on Dec. 21 when Elmer, the last religious sister on staff at “the Mount,” retired.
Elmer, 72, said she will miss cheering for the Rockets at athletic events and attending various events — like a recent holiday concert.
She’ll miss having ice cream — her favorite treat — in The Common’s area of the school.
Most of all, the nun said, she will miss being a part of the hustle and bustle of a thriving campus.
“I will miss the youthfulness of the students and the total family atmosphere,” Elmer said. “It’s just a great place to come to work.”
Students and faculty recently honored Elmer at a fitting time, “Mercy Day,” which marked the school’s 115th anniversary.
Principal Talita DeNegri said Elmer has been an integral part of the school, 2801 S Shartel, for years. The nun’s last leadership role there was director of the work grant program, similar to work study. DeNegri said students and staff at the private Catholic school have relied on Elmer’s steady presence and sense of humor.
“She inspires them and motivates them and holds them accountable to be good stewards of the Mount, to lead with mercy and she’s the inspiration, completely and totally for our school,” DeNegri said.
“With a Sister of Mercy being here, the one and the only one, we just treasure her.”
‘Go with peace’
Elmer received a standing ovation after she spoke briefly at the school’s chapel service at nearby Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She said she would be moving to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to live in community with the Sisters of Mercy there and continue her tradition as an educator.
“Bless her as she continues on her journey. May she go with peace and may she always know that she has a home here at Mount St. Mary,” said the Rev. Cristobel De Loera, the school’s chaplain, before the school unveiled a new sign naming the circle drive in front of the school for the beloved nun.
Junior Joshua Cleary was among students who wished Elmer farewell.
“She’s always been helping out. Just seeing how much pride she took in keeping the school clean as it could be is something that we will miss,” he said. “I’m sad, but this is good for her to get to go to Arkansas.”
Wonderful community
Elmer joined the religious order in 1964 at age 18. She said she had the option of becoming a teacher or a nurse and she had a dream to teach like the Sisters of Mercy who taught her school for 11 years.
She taught in Arkansas for a time before making her way to Oklahoma and the school that she would come to think of as home.
Elmer taught at Mount St. Mary from 1970-73 and left to become a junior high principal at a Catholic school in Arkansas before returning to Oklahoma and The Mount in 2002.
As DeNegri and students sang Elmer’s praises, she returned it as she looked around at the school she had been such a big part of for decades.
“It’s a wonderful community. If every student and teacher would have a place like this to go to every day they would love it,” she said.
Elmer said she remembers living on one of the floors with the rest of her religious order. Elmer had lived in the sisters’ living quarters up until four years ago, DeNegri said. She said those living accommodations were transformed into muchneeded classroom space and Elmer began living at a residence in the neighborhood.
Two other Sisters of Mercy joined the school in honoring Elmer. Sister Diane Koorie and Sister Elena Gonzalez, both retired, live at the Sisters of Mercy convent on the Mercy Health Center complex in northwest Oklahoma City.
The trio talked about the ways their lives and ministry have evolved over the years. They said theychose to forego habits in favor of simple attire after Vatican II. They traded stories about the old elevator at The Mount that still works. They discussed the eventual transformation of the school from a girls’ boarding school to a coed campus.
Koorie said the women of their religious order committed their lives to helping others in various ways, including education at Mount St. Mary. The school always will be in the sisters’ hearts and prayers.
“As the Sisters of Mercy before us, we keep alive the healing teachings of Jesus,” Koorie said. “That spirit will never really be gone. It will always be here.”