Integration 3 Quinn 1 Catherine Wagner Moreau FYE March 4, 2022 Integration Three (This eulogy is written from the perspective of my older sister, Julia). Since the day she was born, Caroline has always been my best friend. We did everything together. Making up dances in the backyard, climbing trees, fighting over clothes, singing in the shower. Literally anything you could think of doing as little kids, Caroline was by my side. She always wanted to do everything I could. Being the bigger sister, it was my job to look out for her and be a good role model, someone who was always there for her. Little does she know, she was that for me. I have and always will forever hold her in my heart. In today’s day and age, it is easy to get caught up in social media, the trends, and popularity. It is easy to forget who oneself is. As Pico Iyer states, “and the more we can contact others, the more, it sometimes seems, we lose contact with ourselves” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyler - Moreau FYE Week One). It is easy to lose sight of what truly matters and is important for salvation. Despite this, Caroline never seemed to lose sight of who she was. She stayed true to her values, never giving up on what she believed to be right. While I know she was someone who took little time for herself, she was always smiling, showing confidence and love to who she was and what she was about. It was very important to her that she stayed true to her heart and her beliefs, and this was a key aspect of who she was. Everyone knew she could always be relied on. Quinn 2 As a lover and student of Notre Dame, Caroline always spoke of her devout love for Father Hesburgh. I know that he was a big role model for her, and she strived to be more like him in her daily life. I can attest that she was successful in this endeavor, portraying much of the same qualities that Father Hesburgh possessed. As stated in the Hesburgh movie, “what made him such an extraordinary figure was he didn’t really belong to any side. He belonged to the side of decency, he belonged to the side of fundamental belief in the redeemability in mankind” (Hesburgh movie produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Caroline showed these same values in her day to day practices. She always wanted to do the right thing, and 9 times out of 10, she followed through with this. Caroline did not care who you were. She did not care what side you were on, what your background was, what your faith was. She cared that you were a human being. She ensured that you be treated with respect and dignity, as she believed everyone deserved to feel loved and welcomed. She would talk to anyone. She did not care who you were; she just cared that you felt appreciated. Like Father Hesburgh, she could connect with all people. She was a friend to all she knew. When I picture Caroline, I picture sunshine. No matter how bad her day was, you would always see her happy and smiling. I know this was always how she wanted to be. She once told me that life is all about your mindset. She told me that your mindset dictates your life. I really do think that she lived by these words. In an article written by Ruth Graham about Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble, Graham states that “suffering and death are facts of life; focusing only on the “bright and shiny” is superficial and inauthentic” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham- Moreau FYE Week 3). While yes, Caroline did mostly focus on the bright and shiny parts of life, she was not numb to the fact that suffering and death were a part of life. This was evident in the way she felt things so deeply. She had the biggest heart, Quinn 3 always feeling others’ pain and suffering. She was always looking out for others, seeking ways to make their burdens a little less harsh; it was in her nature. Caroline was never in anything for the money. She would work a job that paid minimum wage instead of a high paying job solely because all she wanted to do was involve herself in work she genuinely cared about and enjoyed. According to a source, “if a person only focuses on one or two parts of his/her self-concept for a career, that person will eventually hit a wall” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruolo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week 4). As discussed in Week 4, it is important not to settle for a career path just because it pays well and is a job. Caroline took this message to heart and never settled. She chased after what she loved, no matter the pay or social status asociated with it. It was clear to pretty much anyone that knew Caroline what she lived for and desired. My mom told me about a conversation she had recently with Caroline about what she wanted in life. When Caroline asked my mom what she thought her deepest desires in life were, my mom said that she had no trouble answering this. My mom told Caroline that she knew Caroline wanted to “give every child a chance in life and give them someone who loves them and is their advocate” (Interview with Mary Quinn - Moreau FYE Week 5). While my mom knew Caroline so well, I think all of you can attest to this selfless character that Caroline displayed. She was always discerning her call, thinking of ways she could make a difference in the world. This just points to her sympathetic, self-giving character. Faith in God was a core value in Caroline’s life. Caroline made it a point, everyday, to spend time with the Lord. No matter how busy she was, she would set aside time in the morning when she woke up and at night before she went to sleep to speak with God. Throughout the day, she also talked with God. While I do not know really the details of her relationship with God, I Quinn 4 know it was a strong one. Dr. Jihoon Kim in the film titled Grotto states that “it is about how to respond to suffering with God. It’s the reason how I was able to go through them and still trust in God and leave with joy and gratitude” (Grotto by Aria Swarr - Moreau FYE Week 6). As stated in the film, God serves as a very important role when one is going through suffering. He is the best shoulder to lean on, and I truly do not know how people get through suffering without faith. Caroline showed this reliance on God in all things. She trusted God with all her heart, even in the toughest of times. Caroline’s faith in God served as a great example for me of how to practice faith, and I know it did for so many others. Living in communion with others is a key part to life. Pope Francis emphasizes this idea. In a TED talk, Pope Francis states that “each and everyone’s existence is deeply tied to that of others” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7). Caroline exhibited this desire and need for community in her character and in the way she lived. She always wanted everyone to feel welcomed. If she spotted someone standing alone, not socializing or looking sad, she would be the one to go out of her comfort zone and talk to them. She would make an effort to make all feel included and appreciated. She wanted the world to be a place of love and hope. While she may not have realized, her small acts of kindness did not go unnoticed. She made an impact on so many lives, even the lives of strangers, and I am so sure of it. While Caroline has now left us, she is in a much netter place. She is with our Lord up above, which is where she has always longed to be. In communion with our Savior, Caroline is continuing to make an impact on the lives of others. She will continue to make this impact, and she will be remembered as a woman of love, compassion, hope, and desire to do good. To know her was to love her. Quinn 5 Thank you all, and continued prayers for each and every one of you. We can do this. Caroline would want us to continue out this love and make the world a better place. Quinn 6 Sources Week One: https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ Week Two: https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-858 1-ab9500c9ecd9 Week Three: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html Week Four: https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ Week 5: (Interview with Mary Quinn): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/ edit Week 6: https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/ Week 7: https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_inc ludes_everyone/transcript https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/ https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript