Our Lady of the Assumption School said a fond goodbye to Sophie Shell on May 24. Mrs. Shell, who spent 35 years as receptionist at the school, retired to spend more time with her family and to travel.

Sophie Shell Appreciation Day began with a school-wide presentation in the gym. Amid banners and balloons, each class saluted Mrs. Shell with poems, cards, songs and gifts. Later in the day, parents, faculty, parishioners, friends and family attended a reception in her honor.

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June 9 was a special day at Catholic Social Services.

The archdiocesan agency made an occasion of John Edmunds’ 75th birthday to honor the attorney who has volunteered his legal services to the immigration and legalization office for nine years.

After walking into the first-floor meeting room to find a festive gathering, he quipped, “This is a total surprise. I wonder if Dwight Eisenhower kept the secret of D-Day as well.”

His wife Jean was on hand for the “ceremonies” during which a framed proclamation designating June 9 as John Edmunds Day and signed by Archbishop John F. Donoghue was presented by Pam Buckmaster, executive director of CSS and Carroll Sterne, secretary of Catholic Charities.

June 14 is Edmunds’ actual birth date.