A Congregation Christmas Chronicle Connection

Were you aware of this? A Congregation Christmas chronicle connection? (Try saying that four times in a row really fast! LOL). We want to thank Patty Arvin Williams who alerted us to this connection through social media.

Let’s start off the festivities with this:
“You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen … Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen … But do you recall … The most famous reindeer of all?”

Yep, you guessed it, a woman who was a Sister of Providence had a direct connection to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Well, at least to the man who originally wrote the story behind the song. In fact, he was her father!

Rudolph’s “daughter”

Robert L. May wrote the story “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” while working as a advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward in Chicago.

In 1939, Robert had been asked by his boss to write a children’s book for Christmas shoppers. After being asked to do so, Robert had the idea to create Rudolph as a essentially an “outcast.” While writing his book, he would read it to his daughter.

The book was a hit with shoppers and later, Robert asked his brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, to write a song adapted from the story. Eventually, the song was recorded in 1949, by Gene Autry and the legend of Rudolph was born. Johnny Marks would go on to write some of the most famous Christmas songs of all time.

Robert’s wife, Evelyn, passed away in 1939. In 1941, Robert married Virginia Newton, who also worked at Montgomery Ward. They would go on to have five children, including Joanna. Robert passed away on August 11, 1976.

Sister Joanna May was a Sister of Providence from 1960-78. She was born in 1942, after her father wrote the book, but according to accounts from other Sisters of Providence who entered in the same year as she did, she did talk about her father.

Sisters recall

“The Sisters of Providence who were in the same group as Joanna said she talked about her father writing a children’s book about Rudolph and later another person composing the music,” Sister Marie Grace Molloy said.

Two Sisters of Providence, both of whom entered at the same time as Joanna, remembered how she talked about her father and Rudolph.

“Joanna referred to her home as the ‘House that Rudolph built!’” proclaimed Sister Rose Ann Eaton.

“Joanna had a great love for her father and was proud of him in her own quiet gently manner,” Sister Barbara Sheehan added.

Both Sister Rose Ann and Sister Barbara said many of the Sisters of Providence who entered in 1960 got together throughout the years, including Joanna, who sadly passed away on August 15, 2022.

“Joanna was quiet, efficient and very easy going,” Sister Rose Ann said. “She was an administrative assistant at St. Louis University before she retired. When she died, all that she did as a volunteer in her parish was revealed.”

“Her living was quiet yet impactful in all the care she gave to others,” Sister Barbara said.  “Many came to her visitation and funeral and spoke highly of her and how she would be missed. Her gifting her parish was financial and in service.”