Helen Lorch, RSCJ
"Almost" the whole family came to celebrate Helen Lorch's 100th Birthday
From left: Elli O'Donnell Lorch, daughter-in-law and alum of Broadway; the honoree; Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, great friend of Helen's and Oakwood
Helen Manning Lorch, San Diego wife, mother, widow and Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), was honored at a 100th birthday celebration on Sunday and Monday, August 22 and 23, 2010, at Oakwood. “Almost” her entire family came for the festivities - which included a Sunday Mass celebrated by Archbishop John R. Quinn, followed by birthday dinner and a special goûter of cake, ice cream, and lemonade. On Monday, the actual anniversary of her birth, the party continued with a family swim and picnic.
Helen was born August 23, 1910, to Maude Peavey and Daniel R. Manning in Newton, Iowa. She spent her freshman year of college at St. Theresa’s College in Winona, Minnesota, before transferring to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she met and married Alvin H. Lorch, a medical student. During her husband’s years of preparation to become a surgeon, Helen began her teaching career.
The Lorches moved to San Diego when Dr. Lorch joined the staff at Mercy Hospital. In the early 40’s, the Lorch children, Michael and Sherry, were born. In the late 40’s Helen met “the wonderful nuns” at the newly erected College for Women, part of the college and and seminary complex in Alcala Park, which Bishop Buddy and Rev. Mother Rosalie Hill, RSCJ, designed and brought into being. Helen completed her college education there. During that period, her husband was diagnosed with “ALS,” and died sixteen months later. Helen later felt a call to religious life.
On September 15, 1963, she entered the novitiate of the Society of the Sacred Heart in El Cajon, California, where she began teaching part time at the University of San Diego (USD), then known as the College for Women. On March 19, 1966, Helen pronounced her first vows as an RSCJ. She moved to USD where her distinguished career as assistant professor of history, counselor, and resident director began. In 1969, she spent four months of preparation for final vows at Woldingham, England, followed by profession of final vows in Rome on January 25, 1970.
For the next thirty-two years, Sister Lorch became a legend at USD, beloved especially as “house marm” by generations of students. Her room on the dorm floor was always open and alive with dorm students.
In 2002, at age 92, Sister Lorch joined her RSCJ sisters at Oakwood, where her great sense of humor and light-heartedness continue to give life to the community.
Happy new century, Sister Lorch!
