Sister Maureen Wallace, Conversations About Aging
Sister Maureen Wallace

In 1961, after graduating from Cathedral High School, Maureen Wallace, who grew up in Portland, Maine, tentatively decided to become a nun. I say tentatively, because for quite a while when asked if she planned to stay, she’d reply that she wasn’t sure, she’d have to give it another month. She stayed and now, almost 60 years later, she is back in Portland after spending 31 years In Maine Indian Education as a teacher and school principal. She spent a year and a half at Indian Township in Princeton and the rest of her time at the Pleasant Point Reservation (Sipayik) in Perry.

In this episode of Conversations About Aging, Sister Maureen talks about becoming a nun, going to college, and being a teacher. She loved teaching, was even Maine’s Teacher of the year in 1975. She’s still teaching, helping first-graders at Riverton School in Portland with their reading. I think you’ll enjoy my conversation with Sister Maureen. And if you have any preconceived notions about the life of a nun, please tuck them away.

Listen to my conversation with Sister Maureen

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Read a transcript of our conversation

Pictures

Sister Maureen Wallace reading to two children at school on Pleasant Point Indian Reservation.

Sister Maureen reading a story to her students at the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation in Perry, Maine
Sister Maureen's sweet and lively dog.
Sister Maureen’s sweet and lively dog

Who’s next?

Conversations About Aging airs every other Monday. My next conversation is with Joe Cupo. Most of Maine knows Joe. As News Center Maine’s chief meteorologist, he came into our homes every night for many years. So how does the wind blow for Joe now that he is retired? Quite favorably! Stay tuned for our conversation.

Suggestions?

If you have any suggestions for people I should consider interviewing, let me know. The best way to get in touch is to send me an email. And please, share Conversations About Aging with your friends and family. No matter what age we are, we’re all aging! It’s fun, inspiring, and educational to hear about other people’s lives and experiences. That’s what it’s been like for me with each interview I’ve done and I hope it will be for you, too.