St. Anthony grads renew their ties

Former students recall the old days

By ELEANOR DOBER MERTZ
Special to the WCR
Edmonton

Twelve former students and friends of the 1945 graduation class of St. Anthony's Junior High School gathered at the home of Mary Williams Miller Sept. 12 for their sixth reunion.

Two of the students began their first year of school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and others came into the class as the years went on.

Plans to reunite

It was during the final year at St. Anthony's in 1945 that the "girls" suggested that, as they went on to become "the belles of St. Mary's," they make a point of reuniting in the future.

This didn't happen until 1967 when two of the most distant members returned to Edmonton from Windsor, Ont., and Vancouver for a centennial visit. Since then, five more get-togethers have been held.

Sadly, three classmates have died and contact has been lost with a few others.

Nevertheless, the following women have attended at least one reunion - Gloria Biollo Holubowich, Yolanda de Rappard Rowley, Eleanor Dober Mertz, Rita Halwa Solkowksi, Nancy Harrington Bedard, Joan Henderson Jackson, Gladys Lappin Ferguson, Joan Lynch Gilbert, Arlene Lyons Elke, Teresa Lyons Gosche, Dolores Moser Fleming, Sheila O'Doherty Barnett, Teresa Pawlak Newman, Anne Raffa Block, Lorraine Sweeney Adamson, Margaret Verbicky Fedun and Mary Williams Miller.

Principal Mother Margaret would be pleased and proud to know that her students' children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren number more than 160 and that her English grammar students still remember to spell "all right" as two words.

2007 party

It has been a long and lasting friendship. Another party is slated for 2007 and any students who have not been contacted can make their whereabouts known by emailing emertz@sympatico.ca.

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