I want to say that even though I portray the Sisters as mean, nasty, sadistic women (and some were)I also want to say I understand and thank them for the good they did do. I also want to say that after having four children of my own I don’t know how those women stayed sane handling so many children. They were severely understaffed, sometimes 1 women to maybe 40 little children, children who each had difficulties from being separated from their families. I don’t mean to be disrespectful (even though I am). As an adult, I understand their difficulties, even though I don’t condone their methods of punishment. My story is only meant to share my memories of my childhood, it is not meant to hurt anyone else or to be disrespectful to the Sisters who dedicated their lives to caring for children who without them would have been lost.

Here are some of those people who helped create a home for us when we had none:

Sister Bonita Mueller, MSC will celebrate one hundred years of living on May 23, 2007. Her face lights up with anticipation at the mention of the birthday party to be held in her honor at Seton Manor Nursing Home,Orwigsburg, PA where she resides.In fact, in February she inquired about reserving the room for her birthday gathering! Sister is very animated as she reminds us to invite her former pupils, Thomas Berger (Sacred Heart Home, Coopersburg, PA) and Paul Schmidt (Our Lady of Hungary,Northampton, PA). Both men treasure their friendship with sister.

The love of Jesus has animated Sister Bonita throughout her very full life as a Missionary Sister of the Most Sacred Heart. She came to the United States from her native Germany in 1931, and spent the next five years at St. Michael Convent in Reading, PA studying, teaching German, giving organ lessons, and being the principal organist at the motherhouse. For 51 years, Sister was active in elementary education, both as teacher and principal. However, as she explained, her most treasured occupation was that of organist “since music could bring out the expression that was most needed on a given occasion — joy at a moment of celebration, or comfort in a time of sorrow.” Upon retirement, Sister didclerical work at the motherhouse and assisted with the “older” sisters until her definitive retirement at the age of 84. Sister reminded us that one never“retires” from being a Missionary Sisterof the Sacred Heart. She takes seriously her ministry of prayer and loving presence to the staff and other residents. Sister Bonita calls each of the staff by name, explaining that there cannot be a true relationship without knowing the person’s name.
During her many years, Sister has witnessed and lived through numerous changes. When asked what was the most wonderful change that she had experienced, without hesitation she replied: “electricity! because it made the biggest difference to our family life… we could read together and play table games at night.”

by Sr. Barbara Daniels, MSC

Mueller, Sister M. Bonita -  Sister M. Bonita Mueller MSC, 100, a missionary sister of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, died April 26, 2008, in Seton Manor Nursing … Published in the Reading Eagle on 4/27/2008

Maintenance Men:

Paul J. Demetrovic Sr., formerly of 204 W. Hazard St., Summit Hill, died March 15, 2005. Worked at Sacred Heart Home Orphanage in Coopersburg for 18 years.