Rose Emma’s earthly journey began on April 14, 1915, at home in Percival, Iowa, as the sixth child of Thomas and Rose Emma Monaghan’s 11 children: seven sons Ed, Frank, Tom, Charles, Jerry, William (killed in WWII) and Leo; and, four daughters, Catherine, Mary, Alyce and Rose Emma, who was born with a congenital dislocated hip, an inoperable disability. Still, she had wonderful memories of her childhood and her Iowa farm heritage.
The Monaghans were the only Catholic family in Fremont County where the KKK was strongly organized. Rose Emma and her siblings attended a one-room elementary school called Prairie and were cautioned by their parents to excel in their studies and keep out of trouble to avoid harassment by the KKK or certain hostile teachers in the public school. One activity that contributed to the happiness and contentment of the family was its love of music. All 11 children studied and played a musical instrument! The Monaghan orchestra had quite a reputation throughout the area. Rose Emma attended high school as a boarder at St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City, Neb., under the direction of the Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph.
Rose Emma entered the Mount Saint Joseph novitiate on September 7, 1932, and nine days later was quarantined with scarlet fever. She received the habit March 18, 1933, and kept her baptismal name becoming Sister Rose Emma. She began her teaching career in 1936 in Kentucky at St. Denis, Bardwell, followed by Holy Cross School, Loretto; St. Bernard High School, Clementsville; St. William High School, Knottsville and St. Alphonsus High School (for the male students of Mount Saint Joseph Academy). She returned to elementary school at St. John School, Plattsmouth, Neb. From February 1949 through July 1951 Sister Rose Emma was on health leave following orthopedic surgery at Bergin Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Neb. In a 1951, Sister returned to teaching, opening St. Joseph High School in Central City, Ky. In 1958, she taught grades 5 and 6 at St. Peter School, Stanley, Ky. She retired from classroom work and served as the postmaster at the Maple Mount Post Office from 1959 until she retired in February of 1986.
Throughout her life, Sister Rose Emma was a faithful servant amid great physical suffering. In 1993, osteoporosis forced her permanently into a wheelchair, though she remained mobile with a motorized chair and actively involved in community life at the Motherhouse. Sister died very quietly, early Saturday morning, December 27, 2008. It was the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, the disciple whom Jesus loved, an appropriate time for Sister, a disciple also leaning on the shoulder of Jesus her Lover.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, December 31, in the Motherhouse chapel. Survivors included nieces and nephews and one sister-in-law, Virginia Monaghan, wife of sister’s brother, Jerry.
In the warmth of a bright December sunshine, nieces and nephews, the sisters, and a half dozen of the men who were graduates of Mount Saint Joseph Academy/St. Alphonsus campus accompanied Sister’s remains to the convent cemetery for burial.