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Beloved secretary has long history with Louisville Catholic school
By Julie Filby
Though not many can claim a 70-year affiliation with one parish, Marilyn LaSalle can.
This 70-year-old native of Louisville is not only a longtime parishioner of the town’s St. Louis Church; she has also served as secretary at her alma mater, St. Louis School, for 35 years.
“I have deep feelings for the school and parish,” said this humble woman who prefers the background to the spotlight.
LaSalle attended first through eighth grades at St. Louis from 1946-1954. The four-room, one-story frame school house, that originally opened fall 1905, did not have indoor plumbing her first few years as a student.
“I was in third or fourth grade when we added indoor plumbing,” LaSalle said, recalling the 1950 construction where the parish spent $35,000 to add two brick wings, new ceilings and windows, and replace the outhouses.
LaSalle started working at the school part-time in 1976 when teacher and administrator Sister Rose Margaret Wessels asked for help with “some typing and answering the phone.” The position became full-time in 1991.
LaSalle’s four children, with husband of 50 years, Michael; also attended St. Louis School from 1967-1982; as well as three of her 10 grandchildren. The couple has two great-grandchildren.
LaSalle’s daughter, Lori Domenico, currently serves as a secretary in the St. Louis Parish office.
Through the years working for the school, LaSalle has seen remodels and construction, students and staff come and go, and changes in technology.
“The amount of paperwork that’s required now has increased a lot; plus I had to learn—and am still learning—how to use a computer,” she said. “The security is different; we have to be more careful.”
In addition to administrative and accounting work, ordering supplies, and typing the church bulletin for 11 years; LaSalle also serves as “fill-in mom and nurse” by taking care of cuts, scrapes, bumps and bruises for any child hurt on the playground.
She has always enjoyed the office work and the variety that comes with the job, as well as the camaraderie of the school that currently has an enrollment of 180 students.
“I enjoy meeting the parents and working with the teachers,” she said, noting there are students there now that are children of students who were at the school when she first started. “I’ve received many nice cards and gifts from the children and the parents for different occasions.”
One year she received a singing telegram for her birthday.
“She is a great friend and a wonderful first ‘point-of-contact’ person for the school,” said Principal Karen Herlihy. “She works longer than I do most days, still answering the phone even after 5 p.m.”
In addition to staying late when needed, LaSalle helps kick off the school day.
“She has a school bell that she rings each morning to let the children know school has started,” Herlihy said. “She opens the front door to let the kids in—ringing her bell—then walks around to the back door, bell ringing.”
When asked about some of her favorite memories, LaSalle mentioned the annual Christmas programs and fine arts evenings.
“I’ve missed very few,” she said.
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