As she celebrates her 70th Jubilee, Sister Madelyn Sullivan’s Irish eyes are smiling! She was born in Chicago, two days after Christmas in 1936 to John and Ellen Sullivan. Both of her parents were born in Ireland and met in Chicago. They were very religious and wonderful parents. Sister Madelyn was baptized as Mary Ellen. She has one older brother, John, and one younger sister, Marge.
Although Sister Madelyn was taught by the Sisters of Providence in grade school, she got to know the School Sisters of St. Francis when she attended Alvernia High School. After graduating from Alvernia in 1954, she felt a call to become a School Sister of St. Francis. She entered the community on September 12, 1954, and began her college education at Alverno College. When she was received in 1955, she was given the name Sister Madelyn.
Sister Madelyn’s first mission assignment was to teach at St. Rita School in West Allis. Being close to Alverno, she took classes throughout the year and during the summer. After graduating from Alverno, she earned a master’s degree in education from Cardinal Stritch College.
Sister Madelyn loved her ministry of education, teaching elementary grades two through eight. She had already felt the desire to become a teacher during her own grade school years. She also taught high school students in religious education programs. Her entire teaching ministry took place in the Milwaukee area, with the last 30 years spent at St. Jude the Apostle School in Wauwatosa.
Sister Madelyn retired from full-time teaching in 2011, after 54 successful years of being a teacher and helping thousands of students grow into successful adults. Many of them returned to St. Jude with their own children. Even after retirement, she continued as a substitute teacher and remained active in the parish, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and helping at parish events.
Besides teaching, Sister Madelyn remained very close to her family. After teaching during the week, she would travel nearly every Friday evening to Chicago by bus or train to spend weekends with her parents, helping care for them. After their passing, she continued to stay close to her sister Marge and her family. She called Marge regularly and visited often, as they always enjoyed each other's company.
In 1970, her brother moved with his family of nine children to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her niece, the oldest of the nine, recalls how her father willingly drove the entire family back to Chicago every Christmas to spend time with his parents, Sister Madelyn, and his sister Marge and her family. She also fondly remembers annual trips to Milwaukee in August to attend the Irish Fest - a beloved family tradition. Although John died at age 51, his family remains very close to Sister Madelyn.
Her family calls her a master letter writer. She never forgets a birthday or fails to send handwritten thank-you notes to anyone who sends a gift or does her a favor. Sister Madelyn is also known for her Irish wit. Her advice ever since the rise of technology and social media has been, “God answers KNEE-mails, too!”
In 2017, Sister Madelyn moved to Maria Linden. Four years later, Sacred Heart Convent became her home. She continues to keep everyone in her prayers and yes, her Irish eyes are still smiling.
As she celebrates her 70th Jubilee, this is our wish for Sister Madelyn:
May you have a world of wishes at your command,
God and his angels close to hand,
friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!