Sister Julie Edwina Tucker

“How good is the good God.”

-St. Julie Billiart

Sister Julie Edwina Tucker was born Patricia Tucker in Springfield, Mass.,  the daughter of Albert and Julia (Sullivan) Tucker. She grew up in a loving family and her mother encouraged her to attend Sacred Heart High School, which was her alma mater. It was an easy choice for Julie because a number of her grammar school classmates from Our Lady of Hope were also going there. At the small Sacred Heart School she first met the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Sadly, the Bishop unexpectedly decided to close Sacred Heart and the students were invited to attend Cathedral High. Julie credits that change with the beginning of discernment for religious life and choosing between the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

As an SNDdeN, Sister Julie enjoyed each ministry, whether teaching in the classroom or serving in administration. She found that each school and situation provided experiences for growth and opportunities for building wonderful relationships. She still has students who keep in touch and some who make yearly visits!

Sister laughs as she recalls her early years as a teacher. During her first year, the students had to submit penmanship samples for review. Each student was asked to write “This is the best specimen of my penmanship.” It was only after all 67 boys had completed the task did she realized she had spelled the word specimen incorrectly. Another time she went to confiscate something from a student and it turned out to be a live snake, “But I just took it and held it,” she says!

Today she is grateful that she was able to enjoy all eight of her missions!


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