“If the world takes something from us on the one hand, God will give us something on the other.”
St. Louise de Marillac
104 Years of Faith, Friendship and Influence: S. Marge Farfsing
By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern
Two of S. Marjorie Farfsing’s former students, Associate Liz Maxwell (left) and Skip Fellinger (right), attended Sister’s 103rd birthday celebration last year.
S. Marjorie Farfsing is celebrating her 104th birthday on Aug. 12, surrounded by fellow Sisters, Associates and SC employees. Among those celebrating with her is Associate Liz Maxwell, who first met S. Marge more than 80 years ago – when Liz was her third-grade student.
In 1943, Liz was an eager third grader at the former St. Elizabeth School in Norwood, Ohio. It was S. Marge’s first year teaching. At the time, she was known as S. Marie Amedée. “It was my first year out of Novitiate, I was only 20 or 21,” S. Marge shared.
Despite being a young teacher, S. Marge established what Liz remembers as a peaceful classroom. That didn’t stop her students from occasionally testing her patience or her ability to keep order.
One day, Liz and some classmates gathered as many grasshoppers as they could find on the schoolyard during recess and secretly released them in the classroom, hoping to create some excitement. Instead, their plan “fell flat.” S. Marge simply ignored the insects, stepping over them as she continued teaching.
“She was so smart,” Liz recalled. S. Marge used games to teach, including math games that made such an impression on Liz that she later used one of them when tutoring her own students.
After third grade, Liz lost touch with her former teacher for about 30 years. The two reunited in 1973 at a third-grade class reunion. “It was shocking,” Liz said. S. Marge arrived “out of habit, wearing her street clothes!” It was the topic of conversation for Liz and her classmates.
What hadn’t changed, however, was S. Marge’s warm and welcoming nature. Liz describes her as “openly warm, accepting, fun and loving,” qualities that remained constant through the years.
The two reconnected again in 2002 when Liz and her late husband, Bob, moved to Bayley Village across the street from the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse. Soon after, Liz and Bob became Associates in Mission.
“I was delighted to meet S. Marge again and get to know her better,” Liz reflected. Becoming an Associate “didn’t change our relationship, except she had a claim on me more than before! I think there was a closer association, but we did not discuss it. We just felt it.” Their friendship has continued to deepen over the years.
On Aug. 12, S. Marjorie Farfsing will celebrate her 104th birthday.
“She has remained faithful to me all of these years,” S. Marge smiled. “No matter where I am, she is always there with me and for me.”
Now retired, Liz continues to visit S. Marge frequently. Their visits still include plenty of teasing. S. Marge makes sure Liz is careful not to fall and insists on giving her candy. “And if I don’t give her candy, she calls me stingy!” Liz laughs.
What began as a teacher-student relationship has grown into a friendship spanning more than eight decades. Liz still considers S. Marge an “influencer,” much as she was for generations of students during her 43 years as a teacher.
“I’m no longer that kid to her; I graduated myself,” Liz joked. “Now that I’m 92, she has me on the same page, since she considers both of us old!”
For Liz, S. Marge’s steadfast faith, joy and love have been an influence since that third-grade classroom in 1943 – and continue to be more than 80 years later. “She really is the presence of God for me,” she said.
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