Mother Seton School

1971 - 1972

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Class of 1972 Having Fun
by Elaine Ebaugh

Starting first grade can be traumatic. You have to leave the familiar comforts of home and go to a strange place with lots of new kids and a teacher who seems nice, but who knows for sure. So your nerves get the better of you, and though you try hard not to, the first tear slips down your cheek. And then another, and another, until you're crying your eyes out and the teacher puts you on a bench outside the classroom until you calm down. And if you're Elaine Little Ebaugh, that's how you meet one of your lifelong friends, Brenda Williar Rigby, because she's sitting next to you on the bench crying her eyes out, too.

Sr. Grace Marie probably didn't plan it that way, but putting Elaine and Brenda on the bench together was an inspiration. Because 45 years later, Elaine, Brenda, and a group of friends from those early years at MSS have a friendship that's still going strong. Together with Elaine Hobbs Hemler, Kim Baker Genau and Linda Shorb Stultz, these friends from the class of 1972 have been there for each other since first grade. The group also includes MSS alums, Donna Kehne Noonan and Sandy Giannini Seidel, who joined the class in Sr. Ambrose Marie's 5th grade, and Shawn Fitzgerald Mort who came to MSS in 6th grade when Sr. Lorraine was their teacher.

This group of friends is scattered all over the area, but most are within an easy drive of Emmitsburg. They try to get together at least once or twice a year, and they certainly have fun, as the photo (above) from Elaine's 50th birthday costume party shows. Elaine decided that as long as she was turning 50, she "might as well have fun with it!"

Dancing from L-R: Sandy Seidel, Linda Stultz, Elaine Ebaugh, Nancy Miller & Shawn Mort. Front: Bob Seidel.