Sr. M. Pascaline Colling, SFP 

January 29, 1926 – January 20, 2022

Sr. Mary Pascaline Colling was a woman of amazing talent and energy, pouring out her life in compassion for others and service to the poor and elderly. Her many accomplishments are an illustration of the parable of the sower and the seed, where the seed that falls on good ground bears fruit a hundredfold. She used every scrap of grace God gave her, as well as using all her resources to make others happy and lighten their load with a smile, a joke or a listening ear.

Born on January 29, 1926 to Emerson and Bertha Colling in Quincy, IL, Dorothy Mae was their second daughter, preceded by her older sister, Mary Jane. She attended Jackson Elementary School and Quincy Senior High School. Unfortunately, her father passed away while she was still in high school. Dorothy began to volunteer at St. Joseph Nursing Home for Women in Quincy where her mother worked, and when she was old enough, she got a job there as a dietary aide. She became good friends with Sisters Immaculata and Tecula, and the depth of her encounter with them planted the seed of desire to become a Franciscan Sister of the Poor.

At the age of 18, Dorothy Mae converted to Catholicism, and two years later, entered the Congrega-tion on July 16, 1946, receiving the name Sr. Mary Pascaline. She made her 1st Profession of Vows on May 3, 1949 and her Perpetual Profession on May 3, 1954. Sr. Pascaline demonstrated a sharp mind for the business as well as a sense of compassion and desire to care for the poor. To enhance her skills and deepen her knowledge, she went on to received her BS in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in 1961 and her MHA in Hospital Administration from St. Louis University in 1964.

Sister Pascaline used her education immediately. She became the Director of Business Administration for several of our facilities, including St. Anthony Hospital in 1949, Our Lady of Bellefonte in 1954, St. Elizabeth Medical Center in 1961 (after serving as Assistant Administrator for 4 years). After completing a 1-year program in Hospital Administration at Holy Cross Hospital, Sister became Assistant Administrator of St. Margaret in 1964 and Executive Director in 1966. From 1969 to 1972, Sister served the Congregation as Area Director in the US Area.

A new opportunity for service arose for Sr. Pascaline when she became Executive Director of Schroder Manor, a long-term facility in Hamilton, OH. She went on to serve there with loving compassion until her retirement in 1994. Here, her heart was at home, and she became a dear friend to many residents and families, as well as mentoring other aspiring Administrators. After 22 years in that role, Sister’s energy and drive began to slow. She then began to assist part-time in the Development Office and Gift Shop until 1999, and became Manager of the Thrift Store from 1995-2017. She also assisted at Chapel Services for the residents when needed. In 1995, Sr. Pascaline founded Extravagant Bargains Thrift Store on Main Street in Hamilton, which raised money for the Manor. Her efforts at the Thrift Store were enhanced by many volunteers, including several of the Sisters.

Sr. Pascaline also served on many Boards of Trustees, including Schroder Manor Retirement Community, Hamilton, OH, St. Mary Hospital, Quincy, IL, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Ashland, KY and Senior Citizens, Inc. in Hamilton. Other memberships include the American College of Hospital Administrators, Healthcare Financial Management Association and the Altrusa Club of Hamilton, OH, where she had served for over 25 years, holding membership on various committees and on the board. Her involvement included work on projects for the YWCA, the Newsletter, Meals on Wheels research, and others. Sr. Mary Pascaline is also listed in the Who’s Who of American Women and she received the O’Leary Aware of Excellence in Economics from the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.

In the final and most recent years of her life, Sr. Pascaline resided within the Magnificat Community where she was able to fully engage in a simple, common, shared life with her fellow Sisters. She readily participated in activities that brought her joy and humored others with her dry, quick wit. She remained deeply committed and faithful to her ministry of prayer for others, especially those most in need, while continuously seeking a greater connection with our loving God.
It is without a doubt that, at Sister’s passing into the arms of God on Thursday, January 20, at age 95, she heard the voice of Jesus saying: “Well done, good and faithful servant… Come, share your master’s joy!” Matt. 25:21

Written by: Sr. Jo-Ann Jackowski, SFP

Sr. M. Pascaline Colling, SFP “It’s All Good”

Perhaps you saw the lifetime’s worth
of wisdom in her eyes,
A leader’s personality
you’re sure to recognize.
Perhaps her humor, sharp and dry,
found its way to you,
And when her hand reached out for yours,
her heart came with it, too.
And through her life, her work, her prayers,
you knew she understood
As long as we can help God’s people
then life is blessed and good.
Beverly Kaye © 2022

The following are some testimonials from our Sisters who remember with affection Sr. M. Pascaline Colling:

Another pillar of our Congregation joins the ranks of Mother Frances’ daughters!
I knew Sr Pascaline from having always heard about her from Sr. Marie Grace!
A great woman, she took on important positions….
Then I often met her…. A smile that gave off joy and docility of heart!
I remember her fondly; may she rest in peace!
Sr. Francesca Atorino, Sfp

As we go through life we meet many people and mysteriously retain only certain memories from those encounters. The memory I retained from my contact with Sister Pascaline was attached to her marvelous sense of humor.
Something had happened that was discouraging but Sister Pascaline spoke up and said “Sisters, from the day we are born to we ride in a hearse, things are never so bad that they couldn’t be worse.” We all laughed and acknowledged the truth of that saying but you know what? The memory of that moment never left me. Over the years when some tragedy occurred and I would be reacting it seemed I could hear Pascaline’s voice in my head with that saying and I would respond by thanking God that whatever bad had happened wasn’t even worse. That God’s love is always with us turning even the bad towards the good. We shall miss her smile. May she rest in peace!
 Sr. Betty Igo, Sfp

Sr. Pascaline was a true woman of God. Aware of her religious calling at a young age, she extended her energies throughout her entire lifetime in service to humanity as a sister, friend, administrator and fellow life pilgrim. Her generosity was consistently focused on the well-being of others. She passed to God as she had lived, quietly and filled with peace for a life well lived.
Sr. Marilyn Trowbridge, Sfp

I lived with Sr. Pascaline about three years when I spent a time in the US.
At first I struggled a lot because I knew little English. Fortunately, Sr. Mery Grace was in her community.
When I arrived in Cincinnati Sr. Pascaline and Mery Grace welcomed me with an extraordinary love made of kindness and attention to my needs. They set me up with a beautiful room at St. Clare, always asking me if I was ok and if I needed anything. I had breakfast with all the Sisters and lunches and dinners in their community.
For me it was a beautiful time full of excitement, adaptation and living according God’s will. After two or three months Sr. Pascaline gave me the task of staying with our elderly Sisters, which I gladly did because they needed everything.
Sr. Pascaline was an important figure who helped me to live better the separation from my family, she was for me a second mother who guided me during those three years in the USA. I often offered to prepare dinner and when I made spaghetti in various ways I admired the joy in their faces. What beautiful evenings! What beautiful memories!
Her gentleness and attention made me better understand my belonging to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. I was always struck by her smile, the gentleness and interest with which she assisted the Sisters and the elderly people. And when I had to leave to go back to Italy to have my arm surgery, we both suffered. I missed her very much. Thank you Sr. Pascaline for the great Gift you have been to me. Thank you to all our Sisters who truly loved me during that time.
Sr. Viera Farinelli, Sfp

I met Sr. Pascaline when I spent my second year novitiate in Cincinnati and I lived at Pinecroft House of Peace. I had the chance to visit her in Schroeder Manor with our late Sr. Marie Clement and she took us to her apartment. Sr. Pascaline had a “thrift shop” and I remember her giving me a beautiful dress for a teenager saying it might fit one of my nieces back home in the Philippines. It sure did. One of my nieces wore it on her 18th birthday. Sr. Pascaline is always giving. In 2013, when I had another visit, she gave three beautiful Christmas decorations – one for each sister assigned in the Philippine mission.
When I came back to the US in 2018, Sr. Pascaline was already a resident of the Magnificat Unit. During my sabbatical in 2019, I saw more of Sr. Pascaline at the Main Dining Room and I became her “personal transport” coming from the third floor and back to the unit after lunch. She loved her sweets and she always asked for a can of root beer before going back to the 3rd floor.
When I was assigned as Community Minister, I came to know more of the sisters and one of them was Sr. Pascaline. She told me her story of conversion and she showed me a photo of the priest who baptized her when she became Catholic. I tried to visit the sisters and wish them good night and Sr. Pascaline was such a joy because she would always say “good night” and if I say “I love you”, she would say “I love you, too.” If you want Sr. Pascaline’s attention, just ask her, “Do you want some chocolate?” Her immediate response would be “Yes” or she would put out her palm meaning “give it to me now!”
I didn’t realize she loved the Blessed Mother until Sr. Marilyn showed me her planned wake and liturgy after her death. She wanted to have the Scriptural Rosary recited at her wake. In the last few weeks that she was able to attend our communion service at Magnificat chapel, I asked her to say a decade which she did even if sometimes she was out of breath. On the night before she died, I prayed the rosary alone beside her bed because the sisters are in quarantine. I asked the Blessed Mother to embrace her with her maternal care and accompany her to her son, Jesus. She died close to midnight.
Farewell, my dear “rosy cheeks” Sister. May you enjoy your 96th birthday with the host of angels and saints in heaven and pray for us.
Sr. Armida Sison, sfp