Sister Adrienne Marie Savage
Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful is the United States Marine motto. What a perfect motto for the life of Sister Adrienne Marie Savage. As most of you know, Sister Adrienne Marie served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-1945 and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Marie Anastasia Savage was born on December 25, 1912, on a homestead in Wibaux, Montana, to Thomas and Marie Pokorny Savage. She had five siblings: John, James, Thomas, Doris Ties, and Patricia Kelly, all of whom are deceased. She is, however, survived by several nieces and nephews. We welcome Father Michael Kirkness, her grandnephew, who will celebrate her funeral Mass tomorrow. Marie attended the Wibaux County Public Schools graduating from high school in 1933. She pursued a teacher certificate by attending education classes at Eastern Montana College in Billings, Montana, and Western Montana College in Dillon, Montana. Before entering the Marine Corps, Marie taught all grades and all subjects in a rural school. This was noted on the background section of her Marine papers as well as noting that in the rural school she was in `complete charge` of the classroom. Do any of us doubt that? She was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1945 with the rank of Sergeant. I recall hearing her say that she thought joining the Marines would provide a variety of experiences and travel to different places.
Marie entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary on September 8, 1946, in Great Falls, Montana. She came to the Ottumwa Motherhouse to finish her novitiate; making vows in 1949.
Sister Adrienne Marie continued her education at the College of Great Falls, Great Falls, Montana, and Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa. She ministered in several elementary schools in Montana including Sacred Heart, Glendive; St Matthew’s, Sidney; St. Leo’s, Lewistown; and St. Mary’s, Great Falls where she also served as principal. In Iowa, Sister taught at Our Lady of Lourdes, Bettendorf; St. Patrick’s, Neola; and in Ottumwa, St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s where she also served as principal.
In the early 1970s, Adrienne Marie began taking classes in theology at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California, receiving an MA degree in theology in 1973. In 1979, Sister took her first PRH (Personality and Human Relations) session. She found it to be the answer to what seemed to be missing in her life and entered the Homes for Growth in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, to complete a training program in order to bring PRH to others. For ten years she did just that in and around Great Falls.
After retiring and coming to Humility of Mary Center in Davenport, she continued her interest in PRH and gave presentations to the sisters. During her retirement years, her interest in the environment intensified, and she was responsible for acquiring a collection of materials on environmental issues for use in raising awareness of the environment. She was an avid supporter of X-Stream Cleanup and the Earth Charter.
It seems that her students, co-workers, and CHM sisters all recognized her leadership ability and often quietly referred to her as `Sarge.` She remained faithful to her core values until the end. Sister always looked forward to visiting with her CHM sisters and friends always keeping up with their lives and activities. It was edifying to see her reading the daily papers so thoroughly and keeping up with developments in the church, and occasionally declaring how she would act if she were a member of the hierarchy. She is now in a better place to make her voice heard. No more fitting words can be used in closing this tribute than Semper Fi - Always Faithful.
Date Memorial Added: Sep 09, 2008