Sr. Mildred Whall, S.H.C.J.

Mildred Whall, SHCJ

December 10, 1927 – December 12, 2020

Teacher, Pastoral Care and Faith Formation Worker

Mildred (Millie) Whall, SHCJ, a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 70 years, died peacefully on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Holy Child Center. She was 93. A dear friend of Sister Millie’s shared, “I’ll never know a more loving, gentle, accepting, and encouraging woman. She amazed me with how the world was so wonderful through her eyes. I remember her watching me make dinner and she made me feel like a gourmet chef.”

Sister Millie’s connection with the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus dates back to her family’s home in Melrose, Massachusetts, where the Sisters had lived and served at Saint Mary Parish. After attending elementary and high school in Boston, Sister Millie entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. She made her first vows in August 1949 and final vows in August 1954. She became well known by her religious name Mother Mary Thomas.  Sister Millie actively served in ministries for 51 years, with the first 27 years in education and the remaining 26 years in pastoral ministry and faith formation.

She began teaching in her hometown of Melrose at Saint Mary School (1949-1954). She then taught at Saint Anastasia in Waukegan, Illinois (1954-1957), Saint Elizabeth School in New York City (1957-1964), Saints Peter and Paul School in Fleetwood, New York (1964-1967), and Saint Veronica School in Chicago, Illinois (1967-1968). Sister Millie became principal of Saint Charles School in Portland,  Oregon (1968-1970) and Sister Rita School in Portland, Oregon (1970-1972). She then returned to teaching at Mayfield Junior School of the Holy Child in Pasadena, California (1972-1976).

Beginning in 1976, Sister Millie redirected her gifts and talents and started working in pastoral ministry and faith formation. Between 1976-2002, she ministered at several places, including Saint Boniface Parish in Anaheim, California (1976-1980), Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Irvine, California (1982-1992), San Antonio Parish in Port Charlotte, Florida (1993-1998), and Rice School for Pastoral Ministry in Arcadia, Florida (1998-2002). She retired from full-time ministry in 2002 but continued to volunteer for many years to follow.

On learning of Sister Millie’s death, Reverend Jerry Rice, OP, a colleague of Sister Millie at the Rice Center for Pastoral Ministry, noted that the Center’s early graduates all loved her. A
former San Diego neighbor wrote, “…she touched my heart with her sweetness while revealing an intelligent little whipper-snapper within.”

Sister Millie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Villanova University in 1957, a Master of Arts degree in Education Psychology from New York University
in 1962, and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education from Seattle University in 1976.  She joins her parents, Joseph and Rose, brothers Francis, James, and Joseph, and sisters
Kathryn Reilly and Dorothy Walker, in eternal rest. She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010, or make a gift online
at www.shcj.org/american/donate would be appreciated.

Services and interment are private.