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Community Corner

Mount Carmel 'Graduates' Gather for Reunion

Former students gathered for an eighth-grade reunion from the Essex Catholic school.

Over the past several weeks, lots of graduation parties have taken place, as well as a few reunions to celebrate graduation milestones. There was one particularly unique reunion at the Golden Corral on Rossville Blvd. last week.

has been in the community for 124 years. For the last 51 years, the parish has incorporated a school for grades kindergarten through 12. And many alumni have celebrated reunions along the way. 

Prior to the high school being built, students at Mount Carmel celebrated graduating from the eighth grade before they went their separate ways to other public and private high schools. At the 2011 reunion, 32 eighth-grade graduates participated in the event representing classes from 1942 to 1964.

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The tradition started when a group of graduates from the class of 1944 began gathering for lunch every June to celebrate their lives and to keep in touch. As time went on, other eighth-grade graduates and their spouses were invited to join the lunch bunch.

One of the oldest graduates in attendance this year was Mary Lou Green, my mother, from the class of 1942. I was the youngest in attendance, from the class of 1964.

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Among the other attendees was Mike Alexander, class of 1948. An active senior, Mike plays on a senior softball tournament team; he was a member of the 2005 national championship team.

After graduation, Mike married Nancy Sexton. The couple had three children, two boys and a girl. Mike's military service took him to Korea in 1951 and 1952. He also served in Vietnam twice (1966-67) and later deployed again (1968-69). During his time in the Army, he completed his college degree in law enforcement. Upon his 20-year retirement as a commander sergeant-major, he joined the U.S. Marshals. He retired from that position in 1992.

Mary Jane Cuchiella Hudson is a member of the eighth-grade graduating class of 1949. Cuchiella Hudson worked for the government for 35 years at Social Security, the Air Force post at Martin’s State Airport, and 12 years at the old Fort Howard facility as a payroll clerk. 

Other gals from her class include Dorothy Scheltee, Joanne Porter and Agnes Odlewurtel.

All graduates of Our Lady of Mount Carmel's eighth grade are welcome to join these annual reunions. For too many years to count, graduate Mike Eider has been the event's chairman.

Contact him at 410-661-4678 to be added to the mailing list (either snail mail or e-mail).

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