Emmetsburg Democrat Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA Wednesday, 30 Dec 1919 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF SACRIFICE A Most Creditable Record Made by an Emmetsburg Lady Monday was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the taking of the final vow as a Sister of Charity by Sister Mary Placentia, formerly known by the people of Emmetsburg as Miss Anna Fitzgerald. During the day many old friends called on her to extend congratulations and give her a few valuable presents which she will prize highly. She is director in music in St. Mary's Academy. Sister Mary Placentia has had a very active and useful career as a member of the great teaching order to which she belongs. She was on duty at Mt. Carmel, Dubuque, for two years, was in St. Bridget's school in Chicago for two years, and was one of the five sisters who opened the new school in the Sacred Heart parish at Fort Dodge when Father Heelan, now bishop of Sioux City, was appointed its first pastor. She was next transferred to Our Lady of Victory academy at Waterloo where she remained for a year. From there she returned to the Sacred Heart School at Fort Dodge. Five years later Sister Placentia was sent to the Visitation Academy of Des Moines. She was next assigned to duty as sister superior in Holy Name school at Marcus, Iowa, from which institution she went to Chicago where she was placed in charge of the Sacred Heart school and convent. September, 1919, found her installed in her alma mater as music instructor. She has excellent ability, is a zealous, tactful, tireless worker. She has given training to hundreds of young ladies in one of the most treasured of the five fine arts. The Democrat offers hearty congratulations and sincerely hopes she may have the happiness to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her entrance into religious life which she has proven herself so helpful to education and society. [Transcriber note: Sister Placentia was born Hanora Finn, dau. of David Finn and Hanora Joynt Finn. Her mother died in chilbirth and she was subsequently adopted by James Fitzgerald and Theodosia Warren Fitzgerald. See also Emmetsburg Democrat, 8 May 1908: "Sister Mary Placentia, of Ft. Dodge, was an Emmetsburg visitor during the past week. She came to see her father, David Finn, who has been very ill for some time. She has charge of the music department in the Sacred Heart Academy. She will be remembered as Miss Annie Fitzgerald."] Cathy Joynt Labath Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapaloal/paloalto.htm