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BARLING — Mercy Sister Mary Reginald Mooney celebrated her 100th birthday Jan. 3 with a week of festivities, welcoming 13 nieces and nephews from Newfoundland, Canada, enjoying parties in her home, McAuley Convent in Barling, and at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, where she worked as a paid and volunteer dietician from 1970 to 2011.
On Jan. 6, Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders, State Sen. Jake Files, and State Rep. Stephanie Malone presented proclamations to Sister Reginald, and Sister Chabanel Finnegan, RSM read greetings from Gov. Mike Beebe and President Barack Obama. After listening to her many congratulatory letters, Sister Reginald, using a walker, went to the dining room to blow out her candles, cut her cake and make a speech to the crowd.
Sister Reginald’s nieces and nephews entertained guests with Irish songs, including an original composition, “Happy 100th, Sister Reginald,” chronicling her life in 10 stanzas.
At her party at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, none of the assembled employees were surprised that she remembered all their names, although she had “retired” from volunteering at the age of 98. Several dietary department employees said she had taught them everything they knew about food service, and that after she retired from full-time work as a dietician, they were well-prepared for every other supervisor they’d worked under.
Sister Reginald is the last surviving Newfoundlander to have joined the Sisters of Mercy in Arkansas.
“In the early 20th century, the Sisters of Mercy would recruit young girls from other countries to come to the Arkansas mission field,” Doug Pike, her nephew, said.
In 1930, 17-year-old Anne Marie Mooney left her parents and seven brothers and sisters to board a steamer for the United States and the novitiate.
“I came to Arkansas at the start of the Depression,” Sister Reginald said. “So many people were out of work and hungry. I had never seen anything like it. Our resources were very limited. We had to be creative in order to dress up the leftovers from lunch so that they appeared pleasing at dinner.”
She began working as a dietician in 1933, serving at Mount St. Mary Academy, Little Rock; St. Joseph Mercy Health Center, Hot Springs; and a small hospital in El Dorado. In the 1950s she moved to St. Louis, working with postulants while studying for a certificate in food service at Fontbonne College. In 1970, she moved to St. Edward Mercy Medical Center (now known as Mercy Hospital Fort Smith), where she worked until her retirement and continued to volunteer until 2011.
“Food service was a wonderful occupation,” Sister Reginald said. “I love the people and enjoy helping in any way I can. I have committed myself to the care of others.” Throughout her career, she always took time to visit with patients and pray the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” with them, sitting with those who had no one to keep them company.
Prayer has been the secret ingredient of her long, happy, healthy life.
“Enjoy what you are doing, begin and end each day in prayer,” Sister Reginald said. “No day is complete without a conversation with God; forget yourself and do what you can to help others.”
She has never regretted answering God’s call to leave family and the Atlantic coast in St. Mary’s, Newfoundland.
“I have been a Sister of Mercy for almost 80 years and I knew that was what I wanted to be when I was 15,” she said. “Although I have had my ups and downs, I have really enjoyed my life.”
