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by Bonnie Riverdahl
Since 1930, the Mary Ryder Home has provided a safe haven for seniors who can no longer live independently — people who are struggling in poverty and cannot afford typical assisted-living care. This non-profit, residential care/assisted living facility offers fragile seniors a loving home, nutritional meals, medical care, and an array of programs designed to promote healthy aging and quality of life.
In 2000, Sister Carolyn Hupperts, CSJ, began working at Mary Ryder Home as a part-time activities director; her position quickly became full time. Sister Carolyn brought with her the gift of music. She wanted to contribute to Mary Ryder in a unique way — a step beyond the home’s mission of keeping senior residents active physically, mentally and spiritually. And she did.
She started a choir — The Mary Ryder Singers — that became an immediate hit with the residents and staff. The choir performed at fundraisers and neighboring churches and funerals. Choir members also sang at memorial services — instituted by Sister Carolyn — for Ryder Home residents who had passed away. In addition, she gave residents time away from the home, taking them on outings to The Muny and other field trips.
A native of East St. Louis, IL, Sister Carolyn loved music from an early age. The third of four children, she grew up singing with her siblings. After graduating from Fontbonne University, she earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, specializing in remedial reading. Her dream was to work with people in need.
Her first mission was at St. Cecelia’s Parish in Peoria, IL, where she converted songs from Latin to English. At her second mission with Chicago’s Nativity of Our Lord Parish, she formed her first choir. Teaching music as well as science to slow learners, she felt that taking part in a choir would help her students feel good about themselves. The children’s choir was a tremendous success — it was even invited to perform for the pastor’s twenty-fifth jubilee celebration.
In her third mission with Church of the Assumption in Kansas City, Missouri, she created another choir — this time for adults. She was also principal of the grade school.
Her next move brought her to St. Louis, where she served as principal of St. Margaret of Scotland School. She later worked for Holy Guardian Angels School and taught at Bishop Healy School in the St. Louis area.
Sister Carolyn entered the CSJ Order (Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) in St. Louis in 1958, and recently celebrated her golden jubilee (fiftieth anniversary). She has taken her love of people and music to other parts of the world, including working as a pastoral associate in Belize, where she started a choir as well.
Why the interest in choirs? This musical Sister believes that singing is an activity in which everyone can participate. And there’s a bonus — the music brings joy to the singers and listeners as well.
The Mary Ryder Home — named for one of the founders, St. Louisan Mary Elizabeth Ryder — has been a United Way member since 1958, and in 2007 was named a local award-winning charity.
Mary Rider Home
4361 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 531-1413
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