Sister Mary Jeanne Partington, O.P., dies at 102

Sister Mary Jeanne Partington, O.P.

Andy Telli, Tennessee Register

Sister Mary Jeanne Partington, O.P., who was a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville for nearly 80 years, died on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in the infirmary of the congregation’s Motherhouse. She was 102 years old and is thought to be the oldest Nashville Dominican in the congregation’s history.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the chapel of the Dominican Motherhouse on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Father Alfred Wilder, O.P., the Motherhouse chaplain, was the main celebrant and homilist.

Following the Mass, the congregation processed to the Motherhouse cemetery for the Rite of Committal.

“Sister Mary Jeanne, she had a delightful sense of humor, especially the older she got,” said Sister Marian Sartain, O.P., the secretary general of the congregation.

She described Sister Mary Jeanne as “a very faithful religious, attentive to her life of prayer and the details of her religious life.”

Even as her health became increasingly frail, Sister Mary Jeanne insisted on being with the community for Mass, Divine Office and meals whenever possible, Sister Marian said. “She wanted to be where the community was.”

The attachment went both ways, Sister Marian said. “You’d see her at recreation and she’d be surrounded by a group of young sisters. The young loved her and respected her for her wisdom.”

Sister Mary Jeanne was born in Nashville on March 4, 1909, the daughter of Eugene and Maria Schorr Partington. She was taught by the Sisters of Mercy at the old Cathedral School in Nashville and later graduated from Central High School in Nashville.

Sister Mary Jeanne entered the St. Cecilia Congregation in September 1930, the week after making a weekend retreat at the convent.

Photo by Rick Musacchio

Dominican Sisters gather at the conclusion of a visitation for the late Sister Mary Jeanne Partington. She died Jan. 7 and was buried Jan. 10 in the cemetery at the order’s motherhouse in Nashville, following a funeral Mass in the chapel. Sister Mary Jeanne, a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville for nearly 80 years, was 102 and was believed to be the oldest Nashville Dominican in the congregation’s history.

While attending the retreat, she felt God calling her to stay, Sister Marian recounted. She decided to tell her parents immediately because she feared if she didn’t act quickly she wouldn’t do it. In effect, she came for the retreat and never left, Sister Marian said.

“She loved to tell that story,” Sister Marian said.

Sister Mary Jeanne received the habit in March of 1931, made her first profession of vows on March 7, 1932, and her final profession on Aug. 17, 1935.

She and Sister Albertine Dury, O.P., who died two years ago, entered the community the same year and were close friends for the rest of their lives, Sister Marian said.

In 2007, they celebrated the 75th anniversary of their religious profession together. “They were so excited,” Sister Marian said.

That year, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, visited the Motherhouse while he was in Nashville to speak before the 125th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus. During his visit to the Motherhouse, he met with Sister Mary Jeanne and Sister Albertine.

When Sister Mary Jeanne celebrated her 100th birthday in March 2009, Cardinal Bertone sent her a personal note of congratulations, which she treasured, Sister Marian said.

Photo by Rick Musacchio

Dominican Father Alfred Wilder presides over the burial.

Sister Mary Jeanne was proud of reaching the milestone age of 100, something her mother also had achieved.

She received a bachelor of arts degree in English and education from Peabody College in Nashville, now part of Vanderbilt University.

Sister Mary Jeanne was a teacher and school administrator for 58 years in schools staffed by the Nashville Dominicans before she retired in 1992. Among the many schools where she served as a teacher or principal were Assumption, St. Mary’s in Jackson, St. Patrick in McEwen, Overbrook, St. Joseph in Madison, St. Lawrence in Joelton, St. Mary’s in Clarksville, St. Mary’s Orphanage in Nashville, St. Pius X and Good Shepherd in Winchester.

Sister Mary Jeanne had one sister, the late Regina Partington Kleiser of Nashville. She is survived by two nephews, Eugene Kleiser (Marsha) of Franklin, Tenn., and James Kleiser (Lucy) of Memphis, Tenn., and their families. “Her nephews were devoted to her,” Sister Marian said.