Sheldon St. Patrick's principal dies

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
December 11, 2003

SHELDON - The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City recently lost one of its gentle, but strong leaders. Susan McCabe, 52, the principal at St. Patrick School in Sheldon died Dec. 2 at the Northwest Iowa Health Center in Sheldon after losing a battle with a blood disease.

"As a person, I saw her as very gentle in her speech and in her manners. She was a good listener to everybody. She was very fair in her judgements and decisions on things," said Sister Anne McCormick, a teacher at the school for 17 years.

As a school administrator, Sister Anne said McCabe had great vision for the direction of the school.

"She had a way of making everyone feel special," remembered Sister Anne, who added that McCabe was a woman of great faith.

In the days immediately following McCabe's death, guidance counselors from the Catholic Schools of Sioux City were on hand to talk to students struggling with the situation. When they spoke about the principal, Sister Anne said all of the children had commented how nice McCabe had treated them.

"One of the fourth graders said that even when she was sick and she probably wasn't feeling very well, she always had a smile," said Sister Anne. "A sixth grade boy said that even when we probably deserved more, she always used a gentle voice. I think that is what she will remember about her."

McCabe's death had come as a shock. The sister pointed out that when McCabe had left, the principal had expected her return and so did everyone.

Kevin Vickery, superintendent of schools for the diocese, said that McCabe's presence will be greatly missed.

He pointed out that McCabe, as a native of Sheldon was no stranger to St. Patrick's. She had been a member of the school's first kindergarten class, was a teacher and guidance counselor there as well as parent of St. Patrick's students.

"She had done so many different areas of service, that she had a good perspective," said Vickery.

Sister Anne agreed that McCabe's various roles at the school gave her a broader perspective, one not common to many administrators.

Sister Joan Stoffel, director of curriculum for the diocese who had been superintendent of schools at the time McCabe took the administrative position, said she was impressed by the depth of the relationships that the principal had with her faculty, staff, students and parents.

Recently, McCabe's staff bulletin included a thank you for honoring her on "Boss' Day" in October. After stating her appreciation for the remembrance, she wrote, "Your true gifts for me are being such terrific employees and individuals. I appreciate that each day. This is such a great place to work."

"Mrs. McCabe truly was a professional who led with head and heart in a deeply Christian way. She was one of the 'founding members' of the network of diocesan guidance counselors, both on the secondary and elementary level, in addition to her service as principal at St. Patrick's the past five years," noted Sister Joan.

Paula Schwebach, secretary at St. Patrick's School, said, "On the personal side, she was always willing to listen to people and help you through anything. She was always there for anyone who needed her."

As a principal, she described McCabe as a strong leader who was fair and compassionate - a woman with a quiet strength.

At the funeral Mass that was celebrated Dec. 5 by Father Robert Schimmer, St. Patrick students played bells to the tune of Amazing Grace, and honored her Irish heritage with singing of the Irish Blessing. One student told his mother, "It was our surprise for Mrs. McCabe."

McCabe, the daughter of James and Cecilia (Mulhern) McCarty, was born July 18, 1951 in Sheldon. She graduated from St. Patrick's Grade School and Sheldon High School. She received her bachelor's degree from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City in 1973. She married Daniel McCabe on Dec. 29, 1973. They lived in Nebraska from 1973 to 1981, when they returned to her family farm in Sheldon.

She was a teacher at St. Patrick's School and worked as a mediation counselor for Iowa State University Extension Services. She returned to school to earn a master's degree at Morningside College in Sioux City in 1994, while working as a guidance counselor at St. Patrick's in Sheldon and Spalding Catholic in Granville. She then became principal at St. Patrick's.

She is survived by her husband, Dan of Sheldon; their children, Annie McCabe and spouse, Chris Nuckols of Minneapolis; Matthew McCabe of Sheldon; Megan McCabe of Sioux City; her brother Mike and his wife, Maryetta McCarty of St. Peter, Minn.; three sisters, Mary and her husband John Runchey of Cedar Falls; Kathy McCarty of Ankeny; Margaret and her husband Dick Schlotfeldt of Roseville, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, Sylvia and her husband, Dan Scheurer of Mankato, Minn.

McCabe was preceded in death by an infant son, her parents, her brothers, Patrick and David and a sister, Bridget.