[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12760]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF SISTER ANN BRAWLEY, RSM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 2010

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker. I rise today to recall the generous, self-
giving life of Sister Ann Brawley, of the Mercy Order of Roman Catholic 
sisters in Lima who in 2010 has passed from this life into the next. 
Sr. Ann spent 77 of the 94 years of her life on Earth serving in Christ 
Jesus' name. She put into practice His words to live by--to ``remain in 
my love.'' Her joy was complete, as was the joy she conveyed to others.
  Sr. Ann's imprimatur on our community is large. Starting as a 
bookkeeper for Mercy and St. Charles Hospitals in Toledo, she 
befriended all people who worked and visited the hospitals in which she 
worked. Of deep and committed social conscience, she was key in the 
establishment of the Toledo Catholic Diocese's Central Development 
Office. She offered accounting services to several area schools, the 
Migrant Information Office, Aurora Shelter for Women, and Bittersweet 
Farms community for adults with autism. She was invited to help in the 
development of Lima, Ohio's Kibby Corners Neighborhood Project.
  In addition to Sr. Ann's accounting skill, she had a gift and a 
passion for the course of the Nation and politics. I came to know her 
when she offered her counsel, prayers and talents to me during my first 
campaign in 1982. Her humor, wit, and acumen were sharp and appreciated 
by all whose lives she touched. Not all business, Sr. Ann also had a 
passion for sports.
  Sr. Ann had a compassionate heart and open arms, and the source of 
her hope was the unconditional love of Jesus. As Sister Joan Nemann, 
RSM noted in her eulogy, ``More than ten years ago when she asked me to 
give the homily at her funeral she emphasized these words repeatedly, 
remain in my love. This was such good news for her--and for us. Today, 
in her room I found a piece of birch bark that Ann had kept for a 
number of years. I recall that some years ago I came to the Pines to 
make a retreat. At that time the birch trees were shedding their bark. 
I found a lovely piece and wrote on it, `As the Father has loved me, so 
I have loved you. Remain in my love.' I gave it to Ann, and she kept it 
all these years since.'' Sister Joan's story illustrates to those of us 
privileged to know her: to her core, the essence of Love. May Sister be 
granted eternal rest for her life of abiding good deeds.

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