Appearance

Apparel & Accessories

Her most treasured possessions are her Sisters of the Holy Cross beaded rosary and the .44 Colt Army pistol she received as a gift from Sgt. Jack Cole before his death.

Mentality

Personal history

Born to a French immigrant family in South Bend, Indiana in 1842, Genevieve Godeaux joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross based in Notre Dame and took the religious name Sister Marie. She excelled at academics, and was planning to be a teacher at St. Mary's College.
 
During the Civil War she served as a nurse along with others of her congregation on the hospital ship "Red Rover" after it was captured by the Union. During her time as a nurse, she developed both a strong stomach and a yearning to find meaning in a world full of such horrors and to fight back against the darkness. She persuaded many a recovering solider to teach her combat skills, and in turn she listened to their stories with great patience and charm.
 
Towards the end of the war, suffering from PTSD and a crisis of faith, she had a brief affair with Sgt. "Black" Jack Cole--she kept his .44 Colt Army as a remembrance. After the war, she spent a few years recuperating at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Montreal. Failing to find lasting peace within the cloister, she ultimately took an indefinite leave of absence to recover from her experiences and renew her faith.
 
Having lost track of her family in the chaos of the war and with few contacts outside the order, she fell back on her connections with Union veterans. She was eventually introduced to the Hennessy Agency where her skills were once again put to good use.

Education

St. Mary's College in Notre Dame

Mental Trauma

In her service as a nurse during the Civil War, Sister Marie witnessed many horrific injuries and listened to hundreds of stories from the dying men in her care. While present at few battles directly, the empathic experience of the aftermath took it's toll on her as did tending to the wounded in fields after the battle.

Known Languages

English, French, Latin

Personality

Motivation

Early in life, Sister Marie was content with the pursuits of an academic, but after her experiences in the Civil War she feels more at home with soldiers than in the quiet shelter of the cloister. She still finds great peace in the rituals of Mass and the sacred architecture of churches and cathedrals, but seeks to help others in more direct ways.

Social

Birthplace

South Bend, IN

Contacts & Relations

Sister Mary Joseph (Chicago, Illinois): A nurse and colleague from the war, member of Sisters of Mercy (who are rebuilding after the 1871 Chicago Fire)
 
Sister Marguerite (Montreal, Quebec, Canada): A dear friend made after the war while Sister Marie was recuperating from her experience in the War. This is her main contact at the Motherhouse for the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
 
Dr. George Bixby (Boston, Massachusetts): Served as a senior medical officer on the USS Red Rover, now a surgeon at St. Elizabeth's Hospital for women.

Religious Views

Raised a French Catholic family and educated in the cloister, Sister Marie is a devout believer in the Church but with a pragmatic world-view and a deep sense of compassion for others.