Notre Dame Sister Theophane Sullivan is the first in her religious community to reach 100 years of age. Her great niece, Katie Sullivan, joined her aunt’s celebration Feb. 2. (Photo courtesy of Notre Dame Sisters)

Sr. Sullivan is the first Sister of Notre Dame of the Toledo Province to reach the milestone of turning 100. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame as a postulant Sept. 8, 1928, and celebrated her 75th Jubilee in 2006.

Sr. Sullivan taught grades one through 12 for 26 years and served as the principal of Toledo Ladyfield School for two years and Notre Dame Academy (NDA) for 15 years from 1955-57 and 1958-1971.

“She was the principal who opened the new Notre Dame Academy in 1960. She got along well with the girls, respected each one, and knew them all,” said Notre Dame Sister Mary Raymund Johnson, who served under Sr. Mary Theophane as a teacher and as assistant principal at NDA for two years.

“I remember how particular she was about taking care of the new building. She also knew about all of the electrical in the building and could even fix the problems! She had been a high school physics teacher so that helped,” Sr. Johnson added.

After serving at NDA, Sr. Sullivan joined three other sisters in becoming the first residents at Lial in Whitehouse. She led a drive to collect S & H Green Stamps and other coupons to furnish the new Renewal Center. The collections nearly furnished the entire center, according to Notre Dame Sister Mary Elisbeth Ruffing, who also resided at Lial.

“One time Sr. Mary Theophane came back from the Green Stamp Store and admitted she had splurged on a couple of items because she had a few extra stamps,” remembers Notre Dame Sister Mary Vernon Bick, who soon also lived at Lial. “She bought a set of fireplace tools and a pair of binoculars so we could have a better view of the birds.”