Mary John Agnes Smith, BVM
Mary John Agnes Smith, BVM died Friday, March 25, 2016, at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. Visitation will be from 2–4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in the Marian Hall Chapel followed by a prayer service at 4 p.m. Funeral liturgy will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Mount Carmel cemetery.
She was born in Grimes, Iowa, on March 6, 1927, to John William and Agnes Ann Howe Smith. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1945, from Holy Trinity Parish, Grimes. She professed first vows on March 19, 1948, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1953.
Sister Mary John Agnes was an elementary school teacher and principal in San Francisco; Lincoln, Neb.; Chicago; Boulder, Colo.; and Des Moines and West Des Moines, Iowa, where she also served as adult day care director, resource person and volunteer.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Rita Evans and Madonna Smith. She is survived by a brother Daniel J., Grimes, Iowa; a sister Jeanne Phelan, Zearing, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with whom she shared life for 70 years.
Sister Mary John Agnes Smith, BVM
Funeral Welcome
Marian Hall, April 26, 2016
Good morning and welcome to the celebration of life of our Sister Mary John Agnes Smith.
Mary Agnes Smith was born on March 6, 1927, the second child of John William Smith and Agnes Ann Howe of Grimes, Iowa. She joined older sister Rita, and siblings Madonna, Daniel John and Jeanne followed. The Smith family lived on a farm and, like most farm children, Mary Agnes was assigned chores. Decades later she still enjoyed sharing the stories and the wisdom she collected as a farm girl. When she lived in Des Moines, Iowa, she would bring guests out to see the farm.
After completing public grade school, Mary Agnes attended St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines as a boarder. She entered the congregation on Sept. 8, 1945, and received the name John Agnes upon her reception on March 19, 1946. Her sister Madonna, the former S.M. Rita Ellen, joined the congregation one year later, but withdrew in 1970. Mary Agnes professed her first vows on March 19, 1948, and lived 70 years as a BVM.
John Agnes always strived to provide guidance and support to her students. She was sent to teach first and second grades at St. Paul in San Francisco; Sacred Heart in Lincoln, Neb.; St. Bridget in Chicago; Sacred Heart in Boulder, Co., and fourth grade at St. John in Des Moines, Iowa. She also served as principal at St. John, and at St. Ambrose and St. Pius X, all in Des Moines. Her parents were charter members of St. Pius X. In an open letter to the parish, John Agnes wrote, “It is never easy to walk away from a ministry in which one has invested so much of oneself . . . St. Pius will always hold a special place in my heart and prayer. My life has been enriched by all we have shared in the past 10 years and I am deeply grateful.”
For the next six years, John Agnes served as the director of the Willis Adult Day Care Center at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. The Willis Center provided the elderly and young disabled adults with supportive services such as health care, supervision, socialization, meals and transportation—with the goal of allowing individuals to remain in their homes or the homes of their families for as long as possible. She wrote, “It’s a great service . . . One received much joy from these people. [There is] great satisfaction daily because the elderly are so grateful for everything you do for them.”
John Agnes later worked as a resource person and a volunteer at Sacred Heart ES in West Des Moines, Iowa. A teacher with whom she worked wrote, “I really admire Sister John Agnes! I remember when I heard that she was going to be our resource teacher. I was a little nervous knowing she’s an ex-principal and lives with the superintendent! I quickly learned how ‘down to earth’ she is. She has a wonderful sense of humor and really knows how to ‘calm’ the children . . . She has been so affirming to me as well . . . It’s so neat to get a pat on the back now and then! I really enjoy having her come into my classroom.”
John Agnes enjoyed crafts, sewing and painting and once commented that if she had more time, she would do more sewing. It is not surprising that after she moved to Mount Carmel, she generously and cheerfully volunteered with the “Cut-Ups.” During her decade with the group, she created party favors for birthday celebrations and made diapers out of t-shirts, sewed dresses for girls, and put the finishing touches on fleece blankets and knitted baby caps—all for underprivileged children.
John Agnes had a beautiful smile and a good sense of humor, with often spiced one-liners. She had a big heart and an abundance of friendship and love to share. She was faithful and grateful, gracious and encouraging. She strongly believed that people should keep their dreams alive, often reminding them that “they will come true if people trust in the Lord.” She never complained as her health deteriorated and she longed to return home to God. Finally, like Mary Magdalene on that first Easter morn, John Agnes heard Jesus call her name. May she, like Mary, proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!”