The Sunny Hours, Catherine's Story

We first meet Catherine as an enthusiastic high schooler planning her future.

As Catherine’s story unfolds, we see how her spirited and resilient approach to life always allows her to make the best of things, and find joy in whatever she does, even in the most challenging circumstances.

The Sunny Hours story begins at a dance. A girl singer sings, a young couple begin a waltz.
The Sunny Hours story begins at a dance. A girl singer sings, a young couple begin a waltz.
Catherine's Dream

Yes, Catherine dreams of finding love, perhaps beginning with this waltz, but her aspirations go beyond.

Her dream - to go to college.

No easy path in Catherine's era -- especially for a woman.

Three Priests from a Jesuit college. central to the story, energetically recruit sutdents.
Three Priests from a Jesuit college. central to the story, energetically recruit sutdents.
A male college student stands on the stairs in a frozen pose as an admirer sings about him.
A male college student stands on the stairs in a frozen pose as an admirer sings about him.
Sunny Hours Abound
A very angry man is yelling a young woman.
A very angry man is yelling a young woman.
A college co-ed sings about seeing her love interest for the first time.
A college co-ed sings about seeing her love interest for the first time.

Catherine's determination - and getting a job to pay her own way - prevails; things couldn't be better.

Settling into college life, she quickly makes friends, relishes her studies, the spectacular scenery and fresh air on hikes with the college hiking club.

Things get even more interesting one day as she hurries to class and hears a hubbub on the stairs. She looks up and knows, that's him, he's the one!

Then, Fate Deals Dark Times
A torpedoed World War II battle ship sinking, representing events in the era of the story.
A torpedoed World War II battle ship sinking, representing events in the era of the story.
Two women, one young, one older, tussle over a box, each trying gain possession of it.
Two women, one young, one older, tussle over a box, each trying gain possession of it.

Personal and world events take a very dark turn.

The pall of tragedy, emotional turmoil and fear hangs over everything, every day.

And, Catherine faces deeply unsettling uncertainty about her future, as young men leave for war.

A sundial, which is important to the Sunny Hours story.
A sundial, which is important to the Sunny Hours story.

Approaching her century birthday, Catherine still sparkles with life, reads voraciously, stays up on current events, entertains visitors and has found time to share her rich life story and inspirations with Ella, her youngest child.

As Ella reflects on her mother's experiences, she recognizes that she's always been that same enthusiastic, spirited girl - as a mother, a wife and even now, close on a century of life.

As for Catherine's inspiration on how she lived her life...

It's what the sundial told her about sunny hours.

Opening the Door
Catherine's Story

Catherine discovers a Jesuit college that's eager to grow, and the Priests are energetically recruiting new students -- including women.

One battle down. The next two are much tougher -- overcoming her family's resistance, and an empty pocketbook.

A Century of Shared Memories
Productions

Courtesy of The National Archives & Records NAID 195617

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