A friend and I were discussing the fate of the “singing nun,” popular for a time in the 60s when we were kids. We agreed she left the convent, entered into a lesbian affair and, in a state of despondency over money matters, committed suicide. But neither of us can remember exactly why. Could you possibly help? –Hethryn Haryse (?), Los Angeles
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Let’s not make this any more lurid than it already is, Hethryn (or whatever your name is–I swear, what this country really needs is a good dose of Palmer method). It’s true that the “singing nun,” also known as Janine (spellings vary) Deckers, committed suicide in Belgium in 1985 along with her companion of ten years, one Annie Pecher. However, Cecil does not know if the two were lovers, and frankly he does not feel it is any of his damn business. The two were in despair because the center for autistic children they had founded had gone under for lack of funds. The Belgian government was also dunning Deckers for back taxes of between $47,000 and $63,000, although she said she had given all her music earnings to her convent. Deckers, who had become a Dominican nun in 1959, recorded “Dominique” as a tribute to the founder of her order. In 1963 it made number one in the U.S., selling 1.5 million copies. Deckers left the convent in 1967 before taking final vows, partly to pursue a recording career, but never repeated her earlier success. After her death at 51 or 52 (the two women washed down massive doses of barbiturates with alcohol), she did receive the highest honor our society can bestow–a full page obit in People magazine.
It’s not a question of letting anything bother you, Jamiesan. If sulfites want to bother you, they will, possibly by triggering your untimely demise. In fact, sulfites are the only additives now in use that are known to kill people. Fortunately, deaths are rare and result from what amounts to an extreme allergic reaction. If you’ve drunk your share of wine and so far nothing’s happened, you’re probably safe.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): illustration/Slug Signorino.
