Sacred Hearts Sister Georgene Perry
Sacred Hearts sister, teacher, counselor loved the dance of life
Here are extended excerpts from the eulogy for Sacred Hearts Sister Georgene Perry, who died May 20 at age 93, by Sacred Hearts Sister Irene Barboza delivered at Sister Georgene’s funeral June 3 in the St. Margaret Mary Chapel at Sacred Hearts Academy.
By Sister Irene Barboza, SS.CC.
Special to the Herald
One of Sister Georgene’s favorite songs goes like this:
“Dance, dance, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
“I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be, I will lead you all in the Dance, said he.”
Sister Georgene loved the dance of life.
Born on March 17, 1928, Dorothy Patricia Perry was the second child of Rose Silva and George Borges Perry Sr. Her older brother, George Borges Perry Jr., would be her best friend and faithful visitor throughout her religious life until his passing in 2000. Dorothy attended St. Anthony Parish and School in Kalihi and then Sacred Hearts Academy, graduating in 1946.
Dorothy worked as a secretary at Pearl Harbor for a couple of years before entering the novitiate with the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts. As a sister, she took the name Georgene in tribute to the “Georges” in her life. Sister Georgene made her first profession on Dec. 8, 1950, and on Aug. 22, 1954, she pronounced her perpetual vows. Right after her first profession, Sister Georgene began her long teaching career at the Academy starting with grade six, from 1951 to 1956. From 1956 to 1974 she was at St. Patrick as a sixth and eighth grade teacher. She had eye surgery in 1975 and returned to teaching at Sacred Hearts Academy from 1976 until 1987 and then continued serving in campus ministry as a faith counselor from 1988 to 2018. She was directly involved in the ministry of education for 60 years, but throughout her 71 years as a religious, she was always dedicated and interested in children and families.
She loved to enter the dance of life with all those to whom and with whom she ministered.
Last year, June 2021, Sister Georgene celebrated her 70th year as a religious, her platinum jubilee. When asked about the joys and highlights of these years, she responded: “Praying with students, one to one, from grades 7 to 12, helping them grow in their commitment to the God who loves them and guiding them to service in the community in which they live. … I want our students to know and experience the love of God that brings joy to our hearts.”
Two of her former students Alan and Lisa who had Sister Georgene in the eighth grade at St. Patrick had this to say: “Our classes were large with 45 to 50 students and 30 or more of them were boys. She was strict.” She told Alan, “You know, I can be your mother and box your ears if needed.” But she had a caring heart. Lisa recalls she had Sister Georgene in the eighth grade until she had to leave for her eye surgery. Our class was tough. After Sister left at the end of the first semester, seven teachers were needed to replace her because they could not handle the class.
What her eyes lost over time, was made up in her memory of students and their families. As Darice Young shared, “We took Sister Georgene to lunch and she could recall the children and grandchildren of my classmate, Edna Hussey. Her memory of students and their respective family members is uncanny.”
Sister Georgene loved the dance of life with her colleagues in ministry as she said, “Collaboration with the faculty and administration witnessing the love of Christ in their lives, sharing heart-to-heart is a joy for me.” Sister Georgene had a witty sense of humor that she loved to share with colleagues and she was passionate about working for vocations. Leilani Ascension Tagupa shared: “Following the weekend in which my fiance proposed, Sister Georgene was one of the first persons with whom I shared the news. ‘Look, Sister Georgene,’” showing her the engagement ring, to which Sister Georgene said, without missing a beat “Oh well, we lost another one.”
Another fond faculty memory of Sister Georgene happened at a faculty Christmas party, when Emmet White dressed as Santa dramatically scooped Sister Georgene in his arms and gave her a twirl.
In a recent article published by the Academy, Sister Georgene shared a message of wisdom and love. “My message to the Academy community is joy. Experience joy in Jesus, joy in others, and joy in yourself. If you are able to put those together, you will be able to live with grace in your heart.”
Sister Georgene loved the dance of life with her sisters in community. She expressed great interest in how family members of the sisters were doing, inquiring about parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and, as the years passed, about grand and great grandnieces and nephews. I am sure we all have special memories and moments that we cherish with her.
Sister Georgene herself said, “My joy is to be zealous in giving myself to God and the people I serve.” She was zealous in giving herself to prayer and adoration; to bringing students, faculty, families physically and spiritually together holding them in prayer. She was zealous in sharing knowledge and wisdom with her students, colleagues and their families. She was zealous in meeting the Lord of the dance in the lives of all she encountered.
Jesus called Sister Georgene to the eternal dance on May 20, 2021, at about 8 p.m. after a long, fruitful and joy-filled life.
Mahalo, dear Sister Georgene, for your witness to the God of love who loved you into being and whose love sustained you in your life’s dance. Thank you for helping us to enter the dance of life with gusto and joy.
