Some of their stories:
Mike Wich
Hi Kathy,
I enjoyed your novel online. It brought back so many memories, good & bad. My stay was from Aug 63 through July 67. I had no idea that you were so miserable there. I had both of my parents and was able to go home on many weekends. My reason for being at the home was to learn English. When I arrived in 63 I did not speak one word of English. So you can only imagine what I went through the 1st year. But like many others, I survived and moved on in life without becoming a serial killer.
Is Diane Slaughter Michael Slaughters’ sister. Also, do you remember Mary Timmons? I had my first secret crush on her without her knowing it. I would love to be able to contact her.
Looking forward to the rest of your novel.
Sincerely,
Michael Wich
I vaguely remember one of your brothers, Jeffery. One time he came over to me and told me hit a girl in the wiener.
2008 reunion-The current photo from the re-union is Robert Rothermel on the left, Micheal Wich in the middle and John Jeffery on the right. They were my best friends from the home and we are still in touch today.
Sacred Heart Home Orphanage Reunion
POSTED: 08-20-2008 11:45 AM ET | MODIFIED: 08-20-2008 12:05 PM ET
69 News WFMZ-TV
When the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Coopersburg closed in the 1970’s hundreds of kids moved on with life, without the friends they considered family. Today many of those people reunited…showing off their own children and grandchildren, to the family they grew up with. They refer to each other as brothers and sisters but as a group call themselves the “homies.” “A lot of them turned out good. And we knew it. One became a priest a couple have become nuns. It’s amazing everyone turned out this good.” The group has decided to get together on a more regular basis and raise money for other orphans. The group is still searching for a few missing siblings.
View article and or watch video clip at this address: http://www.wfmz.com/view/?id=315486 | article printed: 2009-03-16
Marie Jennings Klotz ยป
I was a day student (an outsider) at the home from 1956-1964. Even though I was only a day student, I remember fondly kids I was in class with year in and year out. I did participate in Donation Days and Christmas pageants and came in the summertime to swim in the pool. I remember the dormatories both girls and boys and the nursery. The chapel was always beautiful. The cafeteria was a place to eat and watch movies once in a while. School was both good and bad. Sister Cordis was my first grade teacher - she was nice from what I remember. Although, she did make me kneel out in the hall for borrowing a pencil from a neighbor. Then I had Sister Willegas - she was an old crabby thing and slapped my hand with a ruler because I didn’t know a math problem that was on the board. Then Sister Peitra, she’s the one that pulled the boys ear so hard she ripped his ear lobe. And then SISTER BONITA - what can I say? Who ever had her knows. I often thought that the nuns there, were put there because they were sick or mental. Anyway, there were good time - playing Red Rover in the gym and jacks on the gym floor and then in ‘63 or ‘64 the basketball games in gym where I got to watch my boyfriend play.
Kathy Mory,maiden name Skrovanek.
Hi everyone,my name is Kathy Mory,maiden name Skrovanek. I was in Coopersburg in 1949 till 1960.Went to St.Catherines home in Reading for a year. I knew lots of kids, Altenbachs, Zartlers,dutkos, Millers,Vitkos, Slaughters,and the list goes on.,Presently I work at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, also there is Debbie Sikler from the home. I was there with my 4 brothers,Gene,Jerry,Bill and Joe. I went to reading with Debbie when Mother Alfreda passed away and saw Sister Bonita there.I remember Sister Itwara, Sister Elaine, SisterCordis.
