Meet Rose DeFer

As I prepare myself for turning 60, I often think of the blessing it was to be able to attend SVdP School. To be honest with you, when I was a child, I just took it for granted. My older siblings all went to Catholic school and so I was going to a Catholic school, too. Back then, I didn’t realize the sacrifice my parents made to be able to pay tuition for their 6 children to attend Catholic elementary and high school. As I grew up, it slowly dawned on me that I was really lucky to call SVdP my “home away from home”. The Vincentian Charism had permeated my childhood, my spiritual journey, and my education.

The compassion of the Daughters of Charity and other teachers at SVdP were sewn into the fabric of what it meant to be a part of the SVdP family. From Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s loving kindergarten classroom to Sr. Vincent Louise (Sr. Martha Garcia) teaching us how to read; these are all reasons I am who I am today. I remember Fr. John O’Malley Sharpe not only visiting our classrooms but inviting us to the altar to see firsthand what was going on during Mass. Then, he would come out to our athletic events after school. Fr. Mike Boyleconfirmed me in my faith and then became a faithful partner to SVdP School in his retirement. I believe he’s still supporting us from heaven now!

I have a group of friends who I have known since Kindergarten or First Grade. These friendships are steeped in the love, acceptance, service and care of St. Vincent de Paul.
With the help from the Daughters of Charity, three of our daughters were also able to attend SVdP School. Marty and I were so grateful for their generosity which aided us with some of the tuition.

We are humbled to now donate to SVdP School monthly as Guardian Angels. I would invite ALL alumni to click on the link below and give back to the school that has given you so much! I’d love to hear YOUR stories, too! Who was your favorite SVdP teacher? What was your best memory of SVdP? God bless you all.

God Bless,

Rosie Riedel
SVdP Class of 1977 AKA

RoseDeFer
Development Director (also Kindergarten Assistant and Library Manager)
[email protected]