College of Saint Mary has lost a pillar of its community after Sr. Judy Pat Healy passed away on Jan. 7 at the age of 82.
She was the last Sister of Mercy working at the university and a CSM alumna, and her passing marks the end of an era, said Heather Smith, CSM president.
College of Saint Mary was founded by a Sister of Mercy, Mother Mary Leo Gallagher, in 1923 and she was also the first president. Sister Mary Constance Walsh was the first academic dean.
"Sister Judy Pat was a beacon of kindness, generosity and unwavering faith, embodying the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy and College of Saint Mary's mission," Smith said. "When I became president, she welcomed me with warmth and encouragement, sharing thoughtful emails and handwritten notes that I will always treasure."
Healy began her journey with the college in 1960 at the age of 17, a chapter in her life that would shape her into a lifelong educator, advocate and symbol of Mercy.
She pursued degrees in elementary education and sociology while embarking on her spiritual path by joining the Sisters of Mercy.
On her first day at CSM, she donned the black Postulant veil and began her novitiate. By graduation, she had professed her vows and was ready to embrace a life dedicated to service and education.
She worked in North Dakota and Colorado before returning to CSM in 1992, stepping into a role that would define the latter half of her career. Initially hired to digitize catalog records for the library, she quickly became an integral part of the campus community.
To fulfill her new responsibilities, she pursued a Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State University. Balancing her full-time job with weekend classes and caring for her mother, she exemplified the perseverance and dedication she encouraged in students.
Her experiences as a working student gave her a unique empathy for the challenges faced by CSM students. Healy's door was always open to those seeking support or simply a listening ear. She was known for asking, "No, how are you really doing?" and offering reassurance that she understood their struggles.
Healy witnessed the evolution of College of Saint Mary under six presidents. Her role extended beyond her duties as a librarian; she became a living link to the institution's history and values. Even as the last Sister of Mercy on staff, she embraced her title of "token nun" with humor and grace, seeing herself as a steward of the college's foundation.
Healy's legacy is one of unwavering faith, resilience and a deep commitment to education and service. Her work and presence enriched the lives of countless students, faculty, and staff. As she once said, "Each day, I have the honor, joy, and excitement of supporting 'the careful education of women.'"
Monthly parking available in Blackstone garage
Monthly parking is now available in the Park Omaha Blackstone parking garage.
The garage, between 37th and 38th Streets and Harney and Farnam Streets, has 385 spaces inside the new Thirty Seven West Farnam development. There are entrances on the west and south sides of the building. Monthly parking in the garage is $150 per month for a non-reserved spot and $200 per month for a reserved spot.
Monthly parking is available for individuals or corporate clients. To obtain a monthly parking permit, contact your human resources department or the City of Omaha Parking & Mobility Division at 402-444-PARK.
If you already have a monthly parking permit, you will need to update or add your license plate information on your online account for Park Omaha's license plate recognition cameras.
To sign up, create an account and submit the application online at parkomaha.com/parking/garage-parking.
Kutak Rock celebrates 60 years
Kutak Rock is celebrating its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of dedicated service to clients and a legacy of innovation, collaboration and success.
From its start in Omaha in 1965 to its presence in 19 locations across the nation today, the firm has grown to become a respected leader in the legal industry.
Kutak Rock has continually expanded its footprint, opening offices in key markets to meet the needs of its clients and communities.
Papillion Lions Club spaghetti dinner set
The Papillion Area Lions Club will hold a spaghetti dinner Jan. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Papillion-La Vista High School Cafeteria (North).
Tickets are adults $10, children (6-12) $5 and ages 5 and under are free. They are available from any Papillion Area Lions Club member or at the door. Takeout is available.
Guests will be entertained by the junior and senior high school bands.
Donations support numerous projects, including eye research, eye exams/glasses, leader dogs, hearing dogs, diabetes research/education, drug abuse programs, youth outreach, children's vision screenings, Radio Talking Book Service and Moving Vets Forward.
California gardeners in need of seeds
Nebraska gardeners, some of your California counterparts need your help.
The Altadena Seed Library in California is requesting donations to help reseed Altadena, which was affected by the recent fires.
Although they are accepting any seeds, native plants are preferred.
Donations can be mailed to 37 Auburn Ave., No. 8, Sierra Madre, CA 91024, care of Altadena Seed Library.
Donated drone helps find another pet
Supporters purchased a thermal drone for Lost Pets of Omaha Area last April, and it has paid off again.
After nine days in the brutal cold, Ryleigh was corralled in a farm field about a mile from where the dog escaped her harness in Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Lost Pets' Cathy Eaton said her husband, Rich, had spotted Ryleigh a few times with the drone but the boxer always bolted, even from her owners. They had been driving from Arizona to International Falls, Minnesota, when their dog escaped.
This time, Marilyn Keizer, a volunteer from the Harrison County Humane Society in Logan Iowa, used cooked chicken to coax the dog close enough to grab. She and her husband, Jerry, were guided to the correct location by the drone.
"It was amazing," Cathy Eaton said.
Cathy said scared dogs often hide and the thermal drone allows them to pinpoint their location. They had tried traps but Ryleigh kept moving.
"This was one of the more difficult ones," Cathy said. "We really had no idea where she was at."
The Eatons then drove Ryleigh to Summit, South Dakota, to unite her with her owners, Fred Napper and Deborah Withrow.
Eaton said Lost Pets of Omaha Area has helped reunite 3,642 pets in the past year.
"I tell people this is the best nonpaying full-time job I can have," she said.
Tax payers can help Nebraska wildlife
Nebraskans receiving an income tax refund this year have an opportunity to support wildlife and habitat conservation.
On Line 56 of the Nebraska state income tax form, 1040N, individuals may donate $1 or more of their tax refund to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, which is used to help several hundred species in Nebraska that are rare, endangered or threatened.
Tax refund donations have benefited native wildlife, fish, and plants over the years, including the Blanding's turtle, swift fox, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, songbirds, blowout penstemon and at-risk pollinators like monarch butterflies and bumble bees.
Donations are used to monitor, maintain and improve habitat for these and many other fish and wildlife species, as well as to provide wildlife viewing and other educational opportunities for Nebraskans. Additional information is available at NebraskaWildlifeFund.com.
For taxpayers not entitled to a state tax refund, contributions can be made at NebraskaWildlifeFund.com or by mail to: Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE 68503.
Reservations can be made at Crane Trust
Bird watchers can now book crane viewing experiences with the Crane Trust in March.
All March 2025 tour options are now available:
Sunrise and sunset riverfront blind toursEvening outdoor footbridge toursDaytime driving toursOvernight VIP experiencesPhotography tours and workshops
These experiences are all led by expert guides. Go to cranetrust.org/crane-viewing.
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