In Memoriam-Miss Philipps

The first time I met Miss Philipps, I was standing in the office after school on my first week of seventh grade; complaining and whining to my mom about not being allowed to go to the football game that night. Miss Philipps popped her head in to see who was giving my mom so much grief, and screams out in a loud, obnoxious, New York accented voice, "Who ARE you?" I was so scared. I stopped talking and could feel my face get hot and bright red, and my eyes started to water up. I quietly told her who I was and she yells again, "Well, Angela, you are the most spoiled little brat I have EVER met. Get over in my office, now!" I walked over shaking. She closed the door behind me and pulled a basket out of her closet, filled with candy. Needless to say, it was the first of many jokes we would share, and moments she used to tease me about over the next three years.

I became very close to Miss Philipps. We joked around and talked almost everyday after school. We also had serious talks about how my life was going because seventh grade was definitely a tough year for me. I remember when the bishop died, and she chose me and three other students to take up to the diocese to pray the rosary. On the way home, she said we'd stop for a "small bite to eat." When she pulled into the Outback Steak House, we knew she meant business. If Miss Philipps knew anything better than how to teach, it was how to have a good meal. During our dinner, she tricked me into taking a bite out of a whole, raw onion, telling me I could train my mind into thinking it would taste like an apple. Let's just say, it didn't work and she was passing me tic-tacs the whole drive home.

Miss Philipps came over the day of my confirmation during my eighth grade year. She handed me a small, black, velvet box with a beautiful ring inside that she had designed and custom made for me. She told me that she wouldn't always be there to guide me and all the people I trust and love couldn't always tell me what to do. She said that I'll be put into situations in my life that may not seem right, but I'll feel the ring on my finger and it will remind me that all I have to do is listen to God and he will tell me what to do. I must say that special ring definitely has, and right now I feel very blessed to have something that I can wear all the time that will always remind me of her.

The last time I spent with Miss Philipps was the middle of this past August. I went in early one morning to help her, like I did every summer since I met her. We spent all morning setting up her new classroom. She made me climb to the top step of a very tall ladder to hang a poster. The ladder began to wobble and I began to panic. Typical Miss Philipps just stood there laughing at me. After we were done, we went down to her office to do the thing that we both have always had in common, and are both VERY good at...we ate.

While finishing up our delicious pizza, we had what was our final conversation ever. She told me about how she had just seen the movie "The March of the Penguins." I couldn't help but laugh while she told me how interesting and wonderful she found what I thought, would plainly be, a boring movie. She explained to me how when a baby penguin is born the parents spend all their time and energy making sure their baby always feels safe no matter what difficulties the freezing temperatures and this dangerous world handed to them. She told me in detail how the mothers walked for hundreds of miles over two months just to bring back a meal for their child. The mother then took care of the child while the father went on the long journey to catch food. She told me that she couldn't imagine how anything on this earth could put so much desire, dedication and stamina into caring for its young. I didn't realize until now much Miss Philipps reflected these parent penguins and that during this conversation Miss Philipps was describing herself to me.

She was one of those people that you always felt warm and safe around. She didn't believe education ended just teaching us our Math and English and how to use a Bible. She believed that education is also how much you care for other people, how you handle everyday situations in a way that shows people how much you love God, and her biggest belief, that we were not just students who went through Resurrection Catholic School, but that we were all a family, and that the only way we could get through life, and all the obstacles it throws at us, was to love each and every person like a member of our own family.

On my last day of eighth grade, she told us all that she would always be here for us. She told us we could count on her, as well as all the teachers from Resurrection and most important, that we could always count on each other. None of us thought that she would so soon not be here for us to physically turn to. But, she definitely is still here, and she always will be. You can see her in the halls of the school, in the eyes of all the students, the hearts of all our classmates, the wisdom of all the teachers and in our parents and our families who she has touched over her time with us. She was an amazing lady and deserves to never be forgotten by anyone.

Angela Meyer
September 12, 2005

This article entitled "School Community Mourns Loss of Dedicated Principal" written by Jen Reed, appeared in the Catholic Witness on September 16, 2005.

School Community Mourns Loss of Dedicated Principal

By Jen Reed

The Catholic Witness

The diocesan Catholic school community is mourning the loss of a principal who was known for her overwhelming generosity, strong leadership and unwavering faith in Catholic education.

Donna Philipps, who was beginning her fourth year as principal of Resurrection Catholic School in Lancaster, died Sept. 10, four days after suffering a massive heart attack that eventually rendered her comatose. She was 51, and is survived by her parents and siblings.

The educators, students and parents who knew Miss Philipps will struggle to deal with the loss, but they will always hold fond memories of a woman they knew to be fun-loving and dedicated to her role in education.

Miss Philipps was involved in education in the Harrisburg Diocese for more than 13 years, serving as principal of St. Joseph School in Dallastown for ten years before assuming her role at Resurrection. She had been an educator in Buffalo, N.Y., and Baltimore prior to serving in this diocese.

Father Edward J. Quinlan, diocesan secretary for education, said Miss Philipps "has exhibited an unswerving dedication to Catholic education."

"As the Congregation for Catholic Education notes in their document on schools and the third millennium, "the educator fulfills a specific Christian vocation," Father Quinlan said. " Miss Philipps has always struck me as one who truly saw her service in the schools as a vocation. Through this work, she placed herself at the service of the Lord and his people. She will be truly missed by all of us."

When the school day at Resurrection began the Monday after Miss Philipps' death, assistant principal Brenda Weaver worked with faculty, staff and parent volunteers to help students cope. Crisis intervention counselors were also on hand.

The student body immediately set to work creating a mural that will depict how their principal touched their lives. Each student will either write a note or draw a picture on the mural, and then Miss Weaver will present it when she attends the funeral Mass., planned for Sept. 16 in Buffalo.

Miss Philipps had decided to teach half a day during this school year in order to maintain a connection with students, Miss Weaver noted.

"She was so excited to start back in the classroom because as any administrator will tell you, for true happiness, you live in a classroom," she said. "The students really want to finish what Miss Philipps started. This is difficult for everyone. The faculty is in shock, but we're being strong for the kids and for each other.

"She was a wonderful woman of great faith," Miss Weaver continued, "and she did pass that on to students, involving them in Mass preparation, Mass participation, prayer services.... To the faculty, she was a guiding force. She had a great love not just for Resurrection but for Catholic education."

Members of the diocesan secretariat for education said Miss Philipps' dedication to Catholic education was evident in her willingness to always volunteer her time and talents whenever they were needed.

"She was such a strong believer in Catholic education that she worked very closely with us in trying to guarantee Catholic education and the continuation of strong leadership," said Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Sue Ann Steves, diocesan superintendent.

Miss Philipps served on a diocesan discernment committee designed for the selection and formation of new principals, and was part of the education conference committee as well.

"She was looking to do what was best for the children, and that was her first and primary concern," said Livia Riley, diocesan assistant superintendent for curriculum. "She wanted Catholic education available to all of our children, no matter what their strengths or weaknesses were."

Joyce Redington, who retired as principal of St. Leo the Great School in Rohrerstown several months ago, shared both a professional and personal relationship with Miss Philipps. The two worked together as Lancaster County principals and often traveled together during educational conferences.

"I think the students were the bright spot of her day," Mrs. Redington said. "It's difficult as a principal to make that step out of the classroom, but she went above and beyond in trying to make sure that connection continued. She did a lot of paperwork outside of the school day... so she could be a very vital part of their lives.

"I respected her for the fact that she was very good at thinking things through before she made a decision," Mrs. Redington continued. "She was a very prayerful person, so any decision that needed to be made in regard to the school involved a lot of prayer and discerning on her part."

Theresa Burg, principal of Our Lady of the Angels School in Columbia, also shared a special professional and personal bond with Miss Philipps. Mrs. Burg said her colleague was always willing to share educational materials with Lancaster area schools.

"Giving the children the very best education she could was always first and foremost in her mind," she said. "She had a love for life, laughed a lot and made jokes, but she knew her responsibilities and she took her job very seriously....Her vitality and her love of God and life will be missed here in Lancaster."

Adorers of the Blood of Christ Sister Linda Fischer, who retired from teaching at Resurrection School last year, said she'll always remember Miss Philipps for her laughter, energy and generosity. She recalled times when Miss Philipps read to fourth-graders, made applesauce with the kids in pre-kindergarten, and baked with the fifth-graders.

"If you gave Donna an inch, she'd give you a yard," Sister Linda said, noting that Miss Philipps had planned to teach CCD in her home parish- St. Joseph's in Dallastown- this year. "If she was your friend, she was your friend no matter what."

Miss Philipp's generosity in the school was paralleled in her personal life as well.

"Donna's home was always open to anybody in need," said Sister Sue Ann. "If she heard about somebody who needed a place to live, she opened her home. If somebody needed transportation, she gave them her car. She gave without counting the cost."

Miss Philipps was also an organ donor. According to Sister Linda, her liver was donated to a 47-year-old-man in Philadelphia the same day she died.

"Even in death," Sister Linda said," Donna was giving."

Reprinted with permission from the Diocese of Harrisburg