Winter 2006, Volume 49, Number 4

Music fills the air...In the Life of Madonna Meyer

A favorite pasttime for Sister Madonna Meyer is playing the piano in Nagle Center. For the past thirteen years, she has spent Sunday afternoons playing for the Nagle Center residents and staff and all other sisters who gather for a weekly sing-a-long.

After retiring to Mount Loretto for community prayer and service, Sister Madonna continued her ministry of music, playing the piano with then retired Sister Ricarda Houlihan, another former music teacher. It wasn’t long until the two were playing duets and gathering others to join for occasional music fests. Even after the death of Sister Ricarda the gatherings with Sister Madonna at the piano continued.

Joining Sister Madonna are some of her classmates, Sisters James Marie Gross, Dominic Church, Therese Marie Hawes, Annette Skyles and Marian Sweeney. Each week they sing for those who can’t and bring smiles to the faces of many. It is a chance to come together, harmonize, enjoy each other and celebrate all that has been brought to their lives. Sisters Dominic and Therese Marie find sheer joy and pleasure in their commitment to this weekly gathering stating, “Sister Madonna plays the piano with pronounced rhythm. She makes the keys dance and brings life out of the piano. Everyone seems to have a good time. Even those who listen from their rooms and who are unable to gather comment how much they enjoy the music.”

Growing up in Key West, IA, Sister Madonna’s interest in music was instilled at an early age by her parents. Each night after the chores were finished Sister Madonna would play the piano, brothers Harold and Francis would play the guitar, banjo and violin while sisters Loretta and Marilyn added harmony and their mother and father joined the singing. On occasion, the whole family would go from house to house in the neighborhood for sing alongs.

Sister Madonna’s love for music continued to be instilled and nurtured by a neighbor who taught her formal lessons each week. “I remember receiving ten piano books from Mrs. Clarence Pillard. Those books helped me learn chording. Now and then Mrs. Pillard would also slip me a popular piece of music so I could further my practice,” remembers Sister Madonna.

Presentation friend, Del O’Hea, fondly remembers the music of Sister Madonna. “When I was in eighth grade at St. Columbkille’s School I used to sit outside by the windows of the band room from 12:15 to 1:00 to listen to Sister Madonna play the piano while Bill Callahan played drums; Harley Grant, the sax and clarinet; and Mary Grabow, the trombone. Practice was important to them because every Saturday night they had a contract at the V.F.W. Hall in Dubuque to play music for dances. My favorite songs were the ‘Clarinet Polka’ and ‘Elmer’s Tune.’ When I was a kid, they were my favorite band,” states Del.

“ Playing piano is a joy for me,” says Sister Madonna, who holds a degree in music and spent 42 years teaching music. “I like to think I make others happy with my music.”

Sister Madonna has brightened many a person’s day by her gift of music. From the sound of golden oldies, religious hymns to popular tunes, one can’t help but smile as voices fill the air, feet begin to move and the warmth of community is shared through her gift of music.