Sr. Alice A. Cummings

September 30, 1923 - January 16, 2018

Cummings, Sister Alice Veronica, SNJM Sister Alice Veronica Cummings (Mary Agnes), a Sister of the Holy Names for over 70 years, died January 16, 2018, at Mercy Life Center, Guilderland, NY, at age 94. Daughter of the late James Cummings and Mary Alice Gallagher, Sr. Alice Veronica told loving stories of her family and three siblings, Noreen, Margaret, and Joseph, all of whom pre-deceased her. She is survived by her devoted sister-in-law, Loretta Deaton, and by several nieces and nephews. Besides her family, Sr. Alice had a few “great” loves: a six-pack of ice-cold Coke, a blouse sale at Peter Harris, most any book, and world travel (despite her physical mobility problems). But, appreciated as all these were, her true loves were her students and virtually any opportunities for learning and teaching. After completing a degree in American History from Trinity College, this talented young woman entered the Sisters of the Holy Names at Outremont, Quebec, Canada, in July, 1945. For the next 70 years she proceeded to turn upside down the saying “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Some hint of Sr. Alice’s exceptional intelligence and attraction to many diverse subjects may be inferred from her record of mastery in her own studies and excellence in many school roles. She earned an MTS in Chemistry and Physics from Catholic University of America in 1963. Then she continued graduate studies in School Administration, Biology, General Science, Bible, and Earth Science, to mention a few areas. She held state certifications from New York and Florida in all the sciences. Later, in 1988, she completed a masters’ in library science from SUNY, Albany. All of these achievements complemented her skill and devotion in school ministries up and down the East Coast. In 1947 she began as an elementary teacher at St. Michael’s in Silver Spring, Md. She went on to teach high school at Academy of the Holy Names, Rome, N.Y.; Convent of Mary Immaculate, Key West, Fla.; Holy Names in Tampa, Fla.; Academy of the Holy Names. Albany, N.Y. She was principal of AHN High School in Tampa for seven years, as well. In 1993, Sr. Alice became the AHN Albany Upper School librarian, serving until failing health necessitated her move to Our Lady of Mercy Life Center. There she was a quiet, gracious presence to residents and staff for the final decade of her life. For all these years, Sr. Alice Veronica’s intellectual acumen, pedagogical skills, and amazing versatility made her extremely effective in the Holy Names mission “to educate the whole person.” But her students, colleagues, and other Sisters especially praise the style and character of her “being” and serving: a model of modesty, she lived and worked with a positive, selfless, and focused devotion to her charges and to her responsibilities. Thousands of students, parents, fellow educators, and companions were enriched by Sr. Alice Veronica’s generous use of the wonderful talents and gifts she was born to share. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Sr. Alice Veronica’s well-lived life at a “prayer service of remembrance” Monday, January 22, starting at 10:00 AM in St. Joseph’s Chapel of the Sisters of the Holy Names, 1061 New Scotland Rd., Albany. A Mass of the Resurrection will follow immediately at 11:00. In memory of Sr. Alice Veronica, donations may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names, 1121 New Scotland Rd., Albany, NY 12208.