Sister Dorothy Rachuba, SSND
Aug. 24, 1926 – June 29, 2019
“The dawning of August 24, 1926 brought with it a blessed event to two happy, Catholic young people,” Francis James and Bertha Virginia Wasilewski Rachuba, when Dorothy, the first of the family’s two daughters, was born. “The center of attention,” Dorothy was baptized on Sept. 9, 1926 at Holy Rosary Church, Baltimore, Maryland.
At the age of six, Dorothy found herself “sitting in the first grade at Sacred Heart of Jesus School, where she first met the School Sisters of Notre Dame.” She received her first Holy Communion in 1933 as a second grader and was confirmed by Archbishop Michael J. Curley that same year. As a seventh grader, Dorothy noticed pictures of girls wearing long black dresses, on her teacher’s desk and asked Sister Cassian about them. She learned that they were candidates preparing for the religious life. Dorothy said in her autobiography that, “Then and there, I don’t know why, I was determined to become one of them.”
Dorothy met Sister Dosithea, Directress of the aspirants, while visiting Notre Dame College (now Notre Dame of Maryland University) for an eighth-grade Sodality meeting. Before she knew it, she was on her way to the Juniorate, where she lived “the happiest years that I had ever spent.” Under the guidance of the Sisters, she “grew more firm in a conviction that the religious life was meant for me.” The long-awaited day arrived on Aug. 24, 1946, when Dorothy walked down the aisle of Sacred Heart Convent chapel in the long black dress and received the bonnet of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
After a year of Normal School and one year of teaching the first grade at St. Peter’s School, Philadelphia, Pa., Dorothy was received into the novitiate on July 16, 1948. She was given the name, Mary Edwardine. Sister Mary Edwardine professed her first vows on Aug. 3, 1949.
Sister Mary Edwardine taught primary and elementary grades at St. Wenceslaus School, Baltimore, Md.; St. Joseph School, 87th St., New York City, NY; St. Gerard School, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.; St. Ambrose School, Baltimore; St. Joseph School, Verona, Pa. and St. Matthew School, Baltimore from 1949 to 1984. While at St. Matthew, Sister completed her studies for a Master of Education in Reading at Loyola College, (now University) in 1971. She had previously earned a Bachelor of Science in 1956 from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Sister Dorothy then used her education as a reading specialist coordinator at St. Matthew’s School (1984-87). Dorothy returned to teaching elementary classes at St. Pius X School and Our Lady of Fatima School, both in Baltimore (1987-2006).
Dorothy was a woman with a calm and generous spirit. She loved her family. According to her niece, Debbie, Dorothy was a very special aunt to her nieces and a godmother to many. She was an important part of every family celebration and loved to talk about her family. Their concerns were always in her prayers.
Thoughtful and caring, Dorothy would leave gifts on the kitchen table for Sisters’ birthdays and at Christmas. She volunteered to give hand massages to the Sisters. She shared her beautiful singing voice and enjoyed playing the piano. Dorothy was always ready for a good time, whether it was playing bingo or enjoying strawberry milkshakes from McDonalds.
Unable to attend the celebration of her 70th anniversary of profession, Dorothy was ready and patiently waiting to go to heaven. She was at peace; she would celebrate in heaven with all that God had ready for her. As she entered the novitiate, Dorothy had written in her autobiography, “My only desire was coming true, my only dream. Little did I realize that the long dress I wanted was the pattern of the seamless robe of Christ.” Dorothy died peacefully on June 29, 2019.
The wake service for Sister Dorothy was held on Tues., July 2, and the Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated by Rev. John Savard, S.J., Rector of the Jesuit Community, on Wed., July 3. Interment followed at Villa Maria Cemetery, Glen Arm Rd., Glen Arm, Md. Sister Dorothy is survived by her sister, Jean Orozco, and several nieces.
- Jeanne Hildenbrand SSND