Sister James Adele LaBonte
1921-2009
This is the story of Sister James Adele LaBonte, described by Sister Joan Sustersic as “a fiercely independent woman with a heart of gold.”
Born in Chicago on May 27, 1921, and baptized Marie Elizabeth, Sister James Adele was the fifth of nine children and the first of three girls. Her parents were James and Mary Rose (Schagemann) LaBonte, both of German ancestry and both Illinois natives. James was from Litchfield and Mary Rose from Chicago. At the time of Marie’s birth, the family had settled in Chicago’s Queen of Angels Parish. In her interview with Sister Marie Bentz, Sister James Adele wrote, “Mother assisted in the family grocery store and spent considerable time helping the sick in the neighborhood; Dad drove a truck for American Express.” Both parents were devout Catholics, and there were several priests and religious in the extended family.
Two of the nine children died at early ages. “Big Laurence,” was in first grade when he died in 1918 during the flu epidemic. Lillian, born in 1923, lived only eight days. Besides Marie, the family consisted of five boys: the second Laurence, Bernard, John, Anthony, and Donald; and another girl, Adela. The LaBonte youngsters all attended Queen of Angels School, and became very fond of their Adrian Dominican teachers. They all spent time helping the sisters. Before school began, Marie helped to unpack and sell the textbooks. During the school year, she assisted with paper work and with care of the classrooms. At the end of the year, she packed boxes and took them to the Post Office. The Great Depression had struck, but the LaBonte family was generous to the sisters. God was also generous to the LaBontes and, to their delight, called two of their children to the service of the Church. “Throughout these years, I longed to be an Adrian Dominican Sister,” Sister James Adele said, and her brother Bernard became a priest.
When she graduated from grade school, Marie attended St. Alphonsus Commercial School and earned a business certificate. She then spent some time working in an optical company. Finally, assisted by the sisters at Queen of Angels, she was able to enter the postulate on February 2, 1939. Two other young women entered at the same time. Sister James Adele said:
We had breakfast at the convent and, accompanied by Sister Gabriella Michaud, took the train to Adrian. . . . A special surprise, shortly after arrival, was finding in the bottom of my trunk a suit box filled with wrapped candy. Even though we were very poor, my mother insisted that my trunk contain every required item on the Adrian list, even the silverware.
Shortly after her entrance, she, her mother, and her family were devastated by the death of their beloved husband and father on March 16 at the age of fifty-one.
Marie received the habit and her religious name on August 2, 1939, and professed her first vows on August 7, 1940. During her postulate and novitiate she had taken high school classes at St. Joseph Academy, and received her high school diploma in June 1940.
Almost immediately after profession she was on her way to Detroit where she taught middle grade students at Visitation School for six years. “Visitation School was staffed by a wonderful group of nuns who worked very hard, enjoyed one another, and made their own happiness.” In 1946 she was assigned to St. Bernard in Alpena, Michigan, where she ministered for a year.
In 1947 she was in Illinois, where she taught for five years at St. Patrick in St. Charles, in first grade, then with middle grade students, and “where I enjoyed many nice, long nature walks.” Assigned again to Detroit, she taught first grade and middle grade students at St. Jude School for six years. As a result of study during the summers, in August 1950 Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian awarded her a bachelor’s degree with a major in English and minors in history and business.
From 1958 on, her entire ministry was in Illinois, mostly with middle grade students. For three years she taught at St. Joseph School in Homewood, then spent a year at St. Denis in Chicago. The next three years were at St. Patrick in Joliet, followed by a two-year return to St. Denis and a little over a year at St. Rita in Chicago. She lost her mother in January 1968, and that October she had serious surgery, followed by a long period of recuperation. Upon recovery she did not return to the classroom, but became librarian at St. Denis School for four-and-a-half years. “[In my three times at St. Denis] I watched the growth of the parish and the building of the new church.” She then spent thirteen years at St. Patrick Parish in Pana.
[These] were my happiest years. My brother Bernard, who was pastor there, had adopted two young boys and it was my great joy to take care of them. I was also parish secretary and did the housework. Here, in 1987, Bernard, pastor and brother, died.
In March 1988 she retired, and moved to a private residence in Chicago “where my ministry was prayer, presence, and service.” She became a member of St. Gall Parish, and helped with the liturgy, frequently doing the readings at Mass.
Because of deteriorating health, she returned to Adrian, to the Dominican Life Center/Maria, in May 2002.
In spite of aches and pains, I still manage to attend prayers, help others, and crochet afghans for gifts and benefits. Shortly after this move my elder brother died and I became the family matriarch. In these late years, it is my special joy to have my sister Adela and brother Donald keeping in touch, calling and visiting. Especially am I grateful for the pleasure of visiting them and their children in the summers—always for a warm welcome and great hospitality.
The last paragraph of her autobiography reads:
My daily prayers will always include the Adrian Dominican Congregation and the many sisters who enriched my life. Especially am I grateful to the sisters and staff of the Dominican Life Center who walked with me and helped me through the difficult years. Prayerfulness, kindness, and care are God’s very special blessings for which I shall always be grateful.
A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister James Adele in St. Catherine Chapel on June 19. Present were her brother Donald and his wife Margaret, her sister Adela Auskalnis and her husband Richard, many nieces and nephews, and her many Dominican friends. Sister Joan Sustersic, Prioress of Holy Rosary Mission Chapter, welcomed those present, extended sympathy, and summarized Sister James Adele’s life and ministry. She spoke of Sister’s last days:
She may not always have been at office or liturgy; but, due to the pain factor, she participated in her room. When she received goodies, she always shared. She was a crocheting machine when she got started—sometimes completing an afghan a day. Despite the fact that she was often in pain, she wanted to take care of herself—by herself. She believed in getting the very minimum of assistance and, if possible, not even that.
On May 28 she experienced abdominal pains and was sent to the hospital for evaluation. We were told that surgery was necessary, but she could not tolerate it. Hospice was called in. . . . The doctor suspected that she had forty-eight hours to live. In anticipation, her family came in that weekend. . . . Last weekend her condition was more serious. . . . On Wednesday, at the age of eighty-eight, in her sixty-ninth year as an Adrian Dominican, and surrounded by friends, the Lord called her home.
Sister’s nephew, Richard Auskalnis, gave his aunt a wonderful tribute. He said in part:
Aunt Marie was an integral and very important part of our lives. She was a teacher and she never missed an opportunity to teach her love of the Lord to anyone who would listen. . . . When our parents got a chance to get away for a day or two, it was Aunt Marie who came and took care of us. She had a strict code of acceptable conduct, but it was always dealt out with much love and humor. . . . Christmas was never really over until Aunt Marie had her drawing. . . . Everyone got something and everyone felt the love our aunt had for us. . . . She was a giver. Every time you saw her, she insisted you leave with something. For all of her years she wore the traditional habit, and we always wondered what she was going to pull out of her seemingly magical sleeves. . . . She was always crocheting an afghan for every new great-niece or great-nephew.
Sister James Adele’s biggest love, besides God, was bingo. . . . I know there is bingo in heaven, and I know my aunt is sitting at a table watching her twelve cards and letting the other angels know when they miss a number.
Sister Patricia Janowicz shared:
I met Sister James Adele when I used to come down from Northern Michigan for my Mission Group meetings and stayed at Maria. I used the room next door to hers. She was always gracious to me, especially when it came to sharing red licorice and Wendy coupons. I was also gifted with getting her afghans. But, most of all, I remember her love and concern.
Adela Auskalnis, Sister James Adele’s sister, said in part:
We appreciate everything you sisters have done. I think you don’t realize what an impact you make on people. . . . Last week I called many people that Sister asked me to notify of her death when it happened. Some of them were students that she had over the years, and they’ve kept in touch with her. What a wonderful impact she made on her students!
Sister Mary Kay Homan, a member of the General Council, remembered:
I lived and taught with Sister James Adele at St. Rita in Chicago. We were teaching partners. There were three classes of every grade, and about fifty students in each class. At that time she wasn’t always well. I’m one that likes to do things with my students, and many times when I planned something she couldn’t do it because she wasn’t well. So I’d take 150 kids and do it.
One time she asked me to take her to the doctor in Streator. I took her there several times. I remember that one time we had a flat tire, and she stood on the side of the road trying to flag down someone to help us. Finally the driver of a big semi-truck stopped, he changed the tire, and we were on our way again. She was a great lady, and we had some great times.
Kristi Scholz, who took care of Sister James Adele at Maria, sent a testimonial. She wrote in part:
Sister James Adele used to bring me bananas—mostly as a “thankyou” for being nice to her and taking care of her. . . . Three weeks ago, when I came to work on a Saturday morning, I learned of her condition and went right to her room to see her. We talked for a long time. I finally asked her, “Do you have any idea the price of bananas right now? What will I do without my supplier?” She started looking around the room, trying to figure out what she could give me. I simply reminded her that I have the afghan she made my family several years ago. Although life was challenging at times for her, she was always appreciative of the care she received. I will miss her very much.
Sister Mae Tack also sent a testimonial. Among her remembrances were:
I arrived at St. Jude Grade School in the 1950s when we had 1,700 students in Grades 1-8. I was one of the five first-grade teachers. We each had fifty-five first-graders. . . Sister James Adele always offered her assistance to us in so many ways. We enjoyed each other’s company and shared many laughs together. She was so thoughtful and loving to my mother and dad when they came to visit me.
Years later, when I arrived in Adrian after serious surgery, Sister James Adele asked if I would drive her to the store to purchase yarn. . . . Another time I drove her to Indiana where we met her brother and his wife. She loved each and every member of her family dearly. . . . We enjoyed many short visits here in Adrian. She always had a rosary in her hands and prayed for many intentions. She taught me how to love and live each day in the presence of God. Every step took much effort, but she accepted the will of God in her daily life.
Sister James Adele’s funeral liturgy was held on June 20. Father Louis Komorowski was the presider and homilist. He talked about Sister James Adele’s life, the readings she chose for this special occasion, and spoke of the beautiful metaphor of the seed that is put into the ground and rises up something greater than it was originally. He likened that to our death and eventual resurrection in Christ.
“Call me when You’re ready, Lord, and make me ready when you call.” These words ended Sister James Adele’s autobiography. On June 17, 2009, God was ready, and so was she. Now, in company with the loved ones who went before her, she lives in eternity with her God.