61st Homecoming Celebrates Dominican Alumnae

On Saturday, April 15th, St. Mary’s Dominican High School alumnae returned to their alma mater for the 61st Homecoming Mass and luncheon to celebrate class anniversaries and recognize five honorees for instilling Christian moral values while encouraging the practice of ethical behavior as demonstrated through their dedication to family, public service, and career.

Rev. Jeremy Lambert, LC, celebrated Mass with music by the Dominican Alumnae Glee Club and Dominican Choir, jointly conducted by Brenda Castillo, Dominican’s Fine Arts Chairperson and Director of Band and Choir and Florence “Flo” Presti ’71 in honor of former Dominican Glee Club Director Elizabeth “Betty” Johnston ’52. A special thank you to Anna Maria Mitchell ’45 for her donation of the alumnae awards given in memory of her parents Rose and Guy D’Antonio and grandparents Angelina and Joseph Caruso.

Awards

Kathleen Swiler LaGrange ’71, was presented with the Alumna of the Year Award, given to an alumna who is recognized by her peers as a woman who instills Christian moral values while urging the practice of ethical behaviors as demonstrated through her dedication to family, public service, or career, and for at least the last 20 years since her graduation has worked tirelessly and consistently to serve others in her community or globally. After a 41-year career in security for Emergency Management with the Department of Interior (DOI) where her passion was keeping people safe, she retired as Regional Emergency Services Manager of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Recognized by the DO with the Distinguished Service Award and the Secretary of Interior for her Regional Emergency Manager before and after Hurricane Katrina, she continues to share her expertise with Dominican in developing emergency preparedness measures for students and personnel safety.

 

Judy Landrieu Klein ’78 received the St. Catherine of Siena Preaching Award that honors an alumna who exemplifies the wonderful qualities that speak of St. Catherine of Siena, patroness of Dominican’s Alumnae Association. The award is given to an alumna who is a seeker of Truth, preacher of the Word by the example of her life, inspires all to make Jesus the center of their lives, and is a true witness to the transforming power of allowing God’s will to guide her daily life. Author of the books Miracle Man and Mary’s Way: The Power of Entrusting Your Child to God, Judy is a Catholic theologian, counselor, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Christian Counseling and Doctor of Philosophy in Bioethics. She works with her husband, Dr. Mark Gelis, at My Father’s House Christian Counseling Services.

 

Margaret “Peggy” Delarosa ’69 and Shannon Rodi Nash ’85 were recipients of the Sr. Mary Angela Mulhern, O.P. Service Award, presented to an alumna who has given generously of herself to promote Dominican by holding an office or chairing a Dominican Alumnae Association committee, known for dedicated participation in Alumnae or school-sponsored events, or being an active alumna.

Peggy Delarosa’s forty-year career with a Berkshire Hathaway company took her around the country where she was responsible for 28 locations as a critical asset manager. Among the many businesses and industries that she interacted with were the New Orleans Saints, Major League Baseball teams, 1996 Olympics, and Paramount Studios. She counts the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans one of her most rewarding projects. She embraced all opportunities to share New Orleans culture and cuisine with architects and administrators from several countries and agencies. Upon retirement, Peggy inquired about volunteer opportunities at Dominican. She volunteers for numerous alumnae events, including homecoming, reunions, Open House, and Cocktails in the Courtyard.  When asked to make rosaries for the 50th class anniversary, she said yes. Then she realized there would be 300 rosaries to make because of the postponement for two 50th anniversaries due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Undeterred, she completed the task, and every year since makes the rosaries.

Shannon Rodi Nash gives her time and talent to Dominican and her community. A parishioner of St. Clement of Rome, over the years she has dedicated countless hours chairing the parish raffle that has a major impact on the parish fair’s success. She is a member of Women of Faith and board member of New Orleans Right to Life Education Foundation and devotes her time to civic organizations, including Willwoods Community and New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors. In addition to volunteering for Open House, Breakfast with Baby Jesus, Mother-Daughter Tea, reunion committees, and phone-a-thon chair, she was secretary and president of the parent’s club board. She volunteers for Pink Game fundraisers, annual gala, golf tournament, and Alumnae Annual Personnel Appreciation Week.

 

Ashley Ernestine Anglin ’01 was recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumna Award. The award honors an alumna who, through her service, leadership and achievements has made outstanding commitments within her community and/or her profession. A licensed psychotherapist and professional counselor in Houston, Texas, for the past 16 years she has been working in the mental health field with experience in inpatient, residential, women’s shelters, assisted living, and outpatient settings. Ashley holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and is working on a PhD virtually at the University of Hold Cross (New Orleans). She is owner of Bridging the Gap Psychcare, PLLC, a private practice that helps individuals, couples and families who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, loss and other issues. Her mission is to aid clients in achieving autonomy and wellness in addition to ending the negative stigma as it relates to mental health and minorities.

 

At the luncheon, the Class of 1973 celebrated its 50th anniversary and received rosaries designed by Rebecca “Becky” Bellows Crawford ’86 and made by Peggy Delarosa ’69. The Class of 1998 marked its 25th year anniversary. Also recognized were the Classes of 1938, 1943, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018.

 

Homecoming Mass and Luncheon Photo Gallery