Bishop Noll alumna Lillian Schreiner Radigan turns 102
The Bishop Noll Institute family extends its warmest birthday wishes to our oldest living alumna, Lillian (Schreiner) Radigan, who turns 102 today (Jan. 14).
Lillian graduated from Catholic Central High School, now known as Bishop Noll, in 1938. The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in September, and the Schreiner family has been part of that legacy since Day 1.
Lillian is one of 11 siblings who attended the Catholic high school in Hammond, in large part because of her parents’ dedication to their faith and their children’s education. John L. and Henrietta Schreiner’s oldest child, George, was a freshman when Catholic Central first opened its doors on Sept. 16, 1921. The youngest child, Carol (Schreiner) Nowaczyk, graduated in 1950 from what was then Bishop Noll High School and is the only other living sibling.
Bishop Noll President Paul Mullaney visited with Lillian and Carol, now 89, last week at Lillian’s home in Mesa, Ariz.
“To borrow one of Lillian’s own words, I was flabbergasted at her memory and her advanced vocabulary for someone turning 102,” Mullaney said. “Carol, as well, displays a persona much younger than she is.
“It was a blessing and an honor to be able to personally deliver birthday greetings to Lillian and to meet Carol. I will not forget that day.”
Lillian and Carol both expressed their gratitude for the upbringing they received from their parents growing up just south of downtown Hammond.
“I don’t know how my mom did it,” Lillian said of how her parents worked hard to provide for such a large family. “At Christmas, she had a present for everyone, and there were many, many people.”
She hinted that her lifespan has been impacted by the healthy meals her mother made.
“Good meals and fresh fruit,” Lillian said. “That’s why I think our heart health was pretty good all those years.
“And on Saturdays, my mom would take a dozen eggs, and separate the yolk for making fresh noodles. Our dining room table was filled with noodles. Then she would take the whites of the eggs and make Angel food cake or divinity fudge. What a process she went through.”
Lillian said she and her siblings had a regimen of chores to fulfill, but helping their mother cook wasn’t one of them.
“The kids weren’t allowed to help cook,” Lillian said. “Because with all the kids to feed, Mom said, ‘I can’t afford to have anything ruined.’ ”
Lillian and Carol both credited their high school experiences as playing a significant role in their development. In fact, they both married high school classmates.
Lillian married James Radigan, and together they had seven children. They were married 67 years before James passed away. Carol married Ed Nowaczyk, and they had eight children. They were married 66 years before Ed passed.
“Both of us have had wonderful marriages,” Lillian said.
Carol said she wouldn’t have married Ed if not for her mother, Henrietta.
“I was going with another boy at the time, and there was a formal coming up,” Carol said. “He told me we were going to double-date with Eddie Nowaczyk and his date. I said, I can’t stand Eddie. I don’t want to double-date with him. He said that’s final, we’re going with Eddie. I said, fine. You go then, because I’m not going.
“I get home, and my gown came from Minas. My mom had it hanging up. She said, ‘It’s so beautiful, you’re going to have such a good time.’ I said, no I’m not … I’m not going. She was like, ‘Whaaaat?’ That was Friday.”
A few days later, after the dance she did not attend, Carol’s life took a dramatic swing.
“Monday evening, my phone rang,” Carol said. “It was Eddie Nowaczyk. He said, ‘I’m just calling to ask you to go out with me Saturday to a movie.’ I was so upset with myself because I said yes.”
Carol’s mother asked what was going on, and she told Henrietta the story – and that she was about to call Eddie back and cancel.
“My mom said, ‘First of all, a woman never calls a man. That’s bad manners. Plus, you gave your word, and you cannot go back on your word. You made the decision, and you’ll have to go out with him. You won’t have to go out with him again, but you’re not calling him now.’
“So he picks me up Saturday, we go to the movie and, you know, he wasn’t so bad,” Carol said. “And we were together from that time on, for 71 years. So I’m glad I obeyed my mother.”
Many of John and Henrietta’s 47 grandchildren also went to Noll, and the Schreiner lineage of Bishop Noll students continued through 1990. At about that same time, the children of Anthony Schreiner (the second of the original 11) invested a scholarship in their father’s name that still exists today to benefit Noll students.
“Think of that legacy,” Mullaney said. “We just celebrated our centennial in September, and the Schreiner family ties have been a part of the Noll fabric since Day 1, for more than 100 years. That is why the school inducted the family into our Hall of Honor in November.”
“In fact, Lillian had a photo of the Hall of Honor plaque proudly on display when I visited her. It’s obvious that Noll means as much to the Schreiner family as they do to Noll.”
Bishop Noll President Paul Mullaney '77 meets with Lillian Schreiner Radigan '38 (seated) and her sister Carol (Schreiner) Nowaczyk '50.
Story published Jan. 14, 2022