Family Ties

#42
FAMILY TIES

At Saint Anselm, thousands of women have moved suitcases into their new dorm rooms in Joan of Arc Hall, eaten meals under their class banner in Davison Hall, participated in Conversatio seminars, and walked across the graduation stage on Alumni quad. And over the years, a few Anselmians have developed strong family ties to the Hilltop, including the Boyles—a family whose legacy includes six remarkable Anselmian women, past and present. 

Marytheresa (Boyle) Parsons ’87 was the pioneer, when in 1983 she chose to attend Saint Anselm to study nursing. Shortly after, Marytheresa’s sisters Kathleen (Boyle) McGonigle ’96 and Patricia Boyle-McKenna ’02 also attended Saint Anselm, followed by her daughter Caroline Parsons ’19, and nieces Abigail McGonigle ’26 and Jacqueline McGonigle ’28. 

“It’s a family school,” says Abigail. “We’re one of those families who are just always doing things together.” 

Abigail’s mother Kathleen reflects fondly on her time at the college. She attributes her ability to arrive at well-reasoned conclusions to the liberal arts education at Saint Anselm. “This ability to think critically while maintaining empathy and understanding has made me the mother, wife, and high school teacher I am today,” she says. 

A graduate of the English program, Kathleen credits her female professors, particularly Sister Maureen Sullivan, Professor Meoghan Cronin, and Professor Ann (Norton) Holbrook for fostering a strong community that went beyond the classroom. “I admired them as strong, intelligent, and thoughtful women,” she says. 

For the Boyle family, Saint Anselm is about more than a degree; it is a place to build community and lasting relationships. Caroline recalls hearing her mother and aunts speak highly of their time at Saint Anselm throughout her childhood, with college friends frequently attending Boyle holiday celebrations and family parties. “Saint A’s friends were family,” she says. “I knew there was something about those friendships.” 

Five years after her graduation, Caroline has found just that with her own Saint Anselm friends. “These bonds have carried into the next chapter of my life, providing a strong support network as I navigate new challenges. From [postgraduate] roommates to bridesmaid duties and becoming an ‘aunt’ to their children, these friendships have been and continue to be a vital part of my journey,” she says. 

After seeing the positive impact Saint Anselm had not only on her older cousin, but also her mother, father, aunts, and two uncles who all attended, Abigail’s college decision was an easy one. “There are no two or three words to explain what Saint Anselm is or why I was drawn to it,” she says. “For me, it was the student life, the community aspect, and the way people interact with each other—I wasn’t forced to come here,” she jokes. 

As a junior nursing major, Abigail is building her own home away from home at Saint Anselm as her family has done before her. Beyond her studies, she is active on campus as captain of the women’s golf team, a student alumni ambassador, an orientation leader, and a member of the Food, Clothing, and Furniture Drive. 

Abigail and Jacqueline get frequent visits from their family members, bringing a piece of home to the Hilltop. Beyond these brief visits, though, the Boyle women have stayed connected to the Saint Anselm community in their own ways. Marytheresa currently sits on the Jean School Alumni Council and Patricia worked at campus ministry after her graduation. For the Boyle women, the ties to Saint Anselm and to their alumni family members are strong. 

“We’re Anselmians. It’s more of a feeling than a word,” says Abigail.