Our Lady Of The Angels School Fire-The Day Chicago Cried

A musical and pictorial tribute to the 3 nuns and 92 students, who lost their lives in a horrible fire on December 1, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. A very sad and tragic event that after over fifty years, still touch's the hearts of many. Featuring "The Soft Goodbye" by Celtic Woman. (No copyright infringement is intended here)

• Category

  Film & Animation

[cherrypop1771]

My brother's kindergarten teacher from another school died in that fire. She was the youngest nun.

[DeGrampster]

I'm assuming you were referring to "Sister Mary Clare Therese Champagne" whom I understand was well liked. I didn't know any of the dead or injured, but I know a woman who attended OLA and she told me that at least twenty-two children whom she had made her first "Holy Communion" with in 1957, perished in the fire. She was actually reluctant to talk about it at any length and the only reason she did initially, was because she had unwittingly walked into a conversation about the 50th anniversary.

[cherrypop1771]

Yes my brother is 19 years older than me, he attended St. Matthews also on the West Side in the Garfield Park district. Yes that is the nun I was talking about. I think she was 27. That is sad about the lady losing so many classmates. A late neighbor lost 3 friends in that fire. Wow if those kids had lived, they would be grandparents now.

[DeGrampster]

Yeah, grandparents! And how much they didn't get to be part of, experience or see over the past five and a half decades. But life goes on! I was 11 and in 5th grade at St Ann's, which is located at 18th Place & Leavitt in Pilsen. I was touched very deeply by this tragedy and after all these years, my heart still aches when I think about it. It should not have happened, but it did and fortunately a lot was learned from it.

[Scott Garnett]

This is a beautiful tribute to the sisters and children who died on that horrible day in Chicago. Jonathan Cain of Journey wrote another song in honor of those who died. Appropriately enough, it's called "The Day They Became Angels." Check it out if you haven't done so already. It's posted on Youtube.

[DeGrampster]

Thanks, I have that song. It's beautiful and very haunting, especially the final verse. It reminds me of the days before Vatican II, when the masses were still said in Latin.

[SkeletonHelloKitty]

smh :/ so sad. were reading dis in my english class,wht a mess

[crazydaily1549]

That's where and when my aunt was teaching.

[VCthaGOATdunker]

Sad times. One of many tragic fatal fires in buildings. RIP to victims. sorry you had to go like that.

[Numberone filmfan]

Jonathan Cain is one of the survivors too.