It is with great sadness that we announce that our first Daughter of Divine Charity
Associate has been called home to Our Heavenly Father. Mrs. MaryJane Truckenbrodt’s
relationship with the Daughters of Divine Charity began as a parent of students at St. Joseph Hill Academy.
Mrs. T, as she was endearingly called, truly attached herself to the Sisters and their
educational ministry. She served as a forensics coach, a teacher and eventually as the first lay principal of SJHA’s elementary school.
Her devotion to her students was evident in the classroom teaching junior high science. Inspiring teens through discovery was not her only gift. Through her strong friendship with Sister Raimonde she found another way to help teenagers develop practical skills through public speaking.
Mrs. T spent hours with junior high students honing their speeches for the Eddy TV
competition and other public speaking opportunities.
Alongside Sr. Raimonde, bonded by their shared love for theater, speech and debate, she devoted her afternoons and weekends to the SJHA High School Forensics Team. Under the guidance of Sister and “Mrs. T” the team became recognized both locally and nationally for delivering “quality, not quantity.”
This team moto became a mantra for most former members of the forensics team, a reminder always to have confidence in one’s ability and training and a reminder to deliver one’s personal best in all endeavors.
Mrs. T will be remembered by the Sisters for all her contributions to their ministry in education. She will be fondly remembered by hundreds of students for her creativity in the classroom. Last, but certainly not least, her forensics team alumnae will honor her each time they stand in front of an audience delivering a presentation with confidence and poise.
God Bless you, Mrs. T.
