GEORGIANNA
H. CRESSY (SISTER M. CHRISTETA, CSC)
My first cousin twice removed
My grandfather Charles Fred Fuller's first cousin. Georgianna was the sixth of seven children of my great-grandmother's sister Sarah Mary Stones and her husband Thornton Robert Cressy, both of Yorkshire, England. Georgianna was born on 30 November 1894 and was baptised on 28 May 1895 at Saint Joseph's Church in South Bend. Her godparents were Joseph E. Robert and Mrs. J.E. Howard. Georgianna went to Assumption school in South Bend and Saint Mary's Academy in Notre Dame. On 19 March 1916 Georgianna entered Saint Mary's convent and upon taking the habit 4 August 1916 she took the name of Maria Christeta. Sister M. Christeta, CSC made her final vows as a sister of the Holy Cross 15 August 1921 at Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. (The initials CSC after her name stand for the Latin words "Congregatio Sanctae Crucis", which mean "Congregation of the Holy Cross"). Aunt Elva remembers always seeing Sister Christeta at wakes and funerals of family members. From 1917 till 1942 Sister M. Christeta was a teacher in various Catholic schools, that is, until she took ill. She died of multiple sclerosis 7 December 1943 at Saint Joseph's Hospital in South Bend, where she had lain sick one year, one month and eight days. She was forty nine years old. Sister Christeta is buried in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's Convent, Notre Dame.
Georgianna Cressy (Sister Maria Christeta) was baptized on the same day and month whereupon I was born: the 28th of May. Therefore I consider her my special heavenly protectress.