When Sister Phyllis Simmons died at the Sisters of Mercy Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania, on November 23, the St. Francis Xavier Catholic community and many throughout Adams County remembered her, mourned, and felt gratitude for her long service to St. Francis Xavier School.
Sister Phyllis Simmons arrived at St. Francis Xavier School in 1972, beginning a career as principal that lasted 38 years. When she retired in 2010, the move to the school’s new home on Table Rock Road was only a year away. Her retirement also marked the end of 90 years of the Sisters of Mercy ministering in the school. Everyone Sister Phyllis encountered, Catholic and non-Catholic, remember her gentle but firm hand and generous heart.
History of Sister Phyllis
Born on Long Island, Sister attended Catholic schools in Queens. She announced at the end of her high school career her decision to enter the order of the Sisters of Mercy, no doubt surprising the young man she had dated through high school. Sister noted that while she pursued her vocation, he recovered and married her best friend. Sister began her novitiate at Misericordia College, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later a master’s in reading from the University of Scranton.
Before becoming principal at St. Francis, she had taught in parochial schools in New York, the Diocese of Scranton and then Harrisburg, always treasuring life in community with her fellow Sisters of Mercy.
Life at Saint Francis Xavier
As a bonus to beginning her first assignment as principal, a long-time Mercy friend and mentor, Sister Juliana, was also assigned to St. Francis. On her first day of school as principal, Sister Phyllis claimed, she was so nervous that Sister Juliana had to push her out the door of the convent.
By now, most Mercy sisters had shed their traditional habits. Sister Phyllis, a pretty young woman, her hair carefully styled, happily enjoyed wearing modest attractive clothes, simple jewelry, and sensible heels. Generations of students learned to listen for the resolute tap tap of those heels as she came down the school hallways. Thus warned of Sister’s approach, they sat up straighter and a hush fell over the classroom before she appeared in the doorway. She cared for her students but expected and demanded respect and behavior befitting Catholic school students. A call over the intercom for a student to report to Sister’s office triggered sweaty palms and a sinking heart as the summoned student set out nervously for the principal’s office.
Growing the school
Sister’s unwavering loyalty to her faculty and staff created a strong sense of community. She was a steadfast mentor, guiding young lay teachers and prodding more seasoned teachers to adapt, adjust, try something new. She listened to their ideas as well. Under her leadership, the school experienced a burst of creativity and activities. Some of the additions include performances of Shakespeare’s plays, festivals, elaborate art exhibits, Christmas plays and spring concerts, as well as the thundering noise of CYO sports in the gym. Sister required students to be well-prepared for the Masses they led.
“Read that again, slowly and clearly. Now do it again,” she would often say.
She initiated many changes, beginning with a tiny private lunchroom for her teachers. She also reorganized space for a vastly enlarged library, added a computer lab, expanded kindergarten to full-day, introduced a pre-school program, and redesigned space to create an art and music room in the basement.
Sister’s Way
Sister liked things shipshape. She hated clutter and neatly cleared her desk every evening no matter how chaotic her day had been. The wide window ledges in the classrooms were a special challenge because many teachers found it hard to resist using them for stacks of books or papers or “stuff.”
Sister’s decorating taste was sometimes very visible, as when summer volunteers gave halls and the old “Red Room” (the large room that was the entry to the school) a facelift featuring Sister’s favorite color, dusty pink. By necessity, the Red Room then became, at least officially, the Xavier Room.
Many a distraught student, tearful parent, or frustrated teacher sat across from Sister Phyllis in her tidy office and was counseled and comforted. It was also the seat of accountability for student offenders, who were often seen scrubbing walls, sweeping floors, and doing other tasks to work off their infractions. Just as she liked a tidy school, she liked a well-disciplined school.
Sister’s caring ways
Sister Phyllis was a note writer par excellence. She was prompt with handwritten notes of thanks, encouragement, sympathy, or congratulations. If a former student landed in serious trouble, Sister would often visit them in juvenile services or the jail. At the least, she would write a note to let them know they were not forgotten.
In 1988, Sister experienced perhaps the most challenging moment of her life when her younger sister Dot died suddenly. With the blessing of her order and the parish priest, Sister became a surrogate mother to Dot’s four children and shepherded them to adulthood. Years later, some of those children gifted her with grandnieces and a nephew. All called her Nonnie, a special blessing and joy that she never expected to experience.
Sister the person
Other glimpses of Sister help round out the picture.
Sister was also an artist. She created icons, beautifully painted images of the saints, Mary and Jesus, and painted stylized flower designs (with lots of pink).
In the kitchen, her gifts were less artistic. She once shared the story of Sister Juliana, the convent’s premier cook, telling her to “watch that pot on the stove” while Juliana ran over to the school. Returning, she discovered a scorched pan. In exasperation, Sister Juliana exclaimed, “I told you to watch that!” Sister Phyllis, perhaps not in total innocence, responded that she had watched it — watched it scorch.
Another side of Sister Phyllis emerged when she drove, with a heavy foot on the gas. A city girl, she made one and only one trip as chaperone to the Farm Show. She arrived dressed in her usual suit, jewelry and heels. Stunned by the smells and mess of the livestock pens, she stomped into school on her return and declared, “Never again.”
Perhaps her own favorite student memory was the little girl who said to her, “I know who you are! You’re our school princess!”
She was proud of her Irish heritage, enjoyed a good laugh, was a faithful friend, loved her Mercy Sisters, worked hard, and left a lasting impression on the students and families of St. Francis Xavier School. She was indeed Saint Francis’s Mercy Princess.
Time for remembrance
The priests of Saint Francis Xavier will offer a Memorial Mass for Sister Phyllis on Dec. 15 at 8:30 am at St. Francis Xavier School, 465 Table Rock Road. All are welcome. Memorial gifts may be made in her honor to the school.
Featured image: Sister Phyllis Simmons is pictured with Alondra Isidro and Hanna James in this undated photo. (Submitted photo)