It was just after Easter Sunday, on Wednesday the Octave of Easter, April 23, 1919, that the fourth little girl was born to the family of Albert Wesley and Catherine Lee Blandford Medley in Loretto, Ky. Ten days later, May 3, the worshipping community of Holy Cross Church was enriched by the addition of one more soul as the tiny infant was baptized Jane Marice. Ten children would be born to this Medley family: five girls and five boys – Marguerite (who would become Sister Charles Catherine OSU), Madeline, Anna Belle, Jane Marice; Charles, Joseph A., Joseph B., Francis Gerald (1), Francis Gerald (2), and Mary Kathleen. The family grew up in Loretto in rural Kentucky. The family must have been entranced with a rich interest in discovering the marvels of God’s creation. Sister Miriam recalls that when she was about 4 they moved into a new house that had electricity. She was fascinated by the electric lights hanging from the ceiling and went from door to door in every room turning on the switch. The whole family explored with Jane the marvels of electricity in their new home.
Jane went to elementary school at Holy Cross, a public school taught by the Ursuline Sisters. Shortly after her sixth birthday, she was confirmed Mary Jane Marice Medley, on Monday morning May 11, 1925. For high school, she moved up the hill to Holy Cross High School, also taught by the Ursuline Sisters. When she was 14, her mother died, leaving behind seven children, the youngest of whom was only six-weeks old. The family struggled for three years, then their father remarried and life became easier. When Jane graduated from high school in 1936, it was with a slightly lighter heart that she made the decision to begin her higher education at Mount Saint Joseph Junior College for Women. After one year, with questions of the future burning in her heart, Jane went to West Virginia and spent a year with her Aunt Ruth, her special guide following her mother’s death.
After that year with Aunt Ruth, she came back to Kentucky and on September 8, 1938, became a postulant at Mount Saint Joseph with 16 other young women. She entered the novitiate receiving the veil and the name Sister Miriam on August 14, 1939. On Friday, August 15, 1941, Sister made temporary vows and final vows three years later, August 15, 1944.
Sister Miriam’s first mission was at Saint Joseph, Marion County. She taught for the next 45 years, 30 of which were in public schools — in Raywick, Peonia, Glennonville (Mo.), Calvary, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Louisville, Lebanon, and Flaherty. For 20 of these years, she served as principal. During this time, Sister earned a baccalaureate and a master’s degree from Creighton University; further study at Ursuline College, Brescia College, DePaul University, and St. Louis University.
When realizing that she was nearing retirement age from full-time school administration, she prepared for other ministries — added workshops for RCIA, Catholic leadership, ministry formation, and pastoral ministry. She ministered at St. Paul Parish in Princeton and Resurrection Parish in Dawson Springs, Ky. She was called to work in the Brescia College library directing Work Study students. In preparation for this, she attended a National Library Conference in New Orleans and held that position for seven years. In 1994, she became pastoral minister at Saint Joseph Parish in Aztec, N.M., and cherished the opportunity to travel extensively in exploration of the Four Corners area.
Sister Miriam came home to the Mount in 1998 during her 79th year in the Ursuline community. She served three years as sacristan and manager of the Jot’em Down Store, five years as community librarian. She enjoyed the “best time of her life” when a former Academy student took her on an Alaskan Cruise.
In 2007, Sister Miriam moved to Saint Joseph Villa, receiving the care she needed from the nursing staff and supported by the love and care of her sisters. On Monday afternoon, November 26, 2012, Sister Miriam, at the invitation of Jesus, cruised directly into heaven. Following the Mass of Resurrection, Friday, November 30, Sister Miriam’s remains were carried in solemn procession the Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery for burial.