Sister M. Gerarda Ryan, IHM
Sister M. Gerarda Ryan, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, November 2, 1998 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on May 10, 1902, in Boston, Massachusetts, and given the name Genevieve. She was the daughter of the late William Henry and Margaret D. Coughlan Ryan. She entered the IHM Congregation on October 15, 1925, made her temporary profession of vows on December 29, 1927, and her final profession of vows on July 31, 1931.
Sister Gerarda served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary of the Mount High School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1929 to 1942 and 1961 to 1965; Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, NY, from 1942 to 1952 and 1965 to 1966; St. John High School in Susquehanna, PA, from 1953 to 1957; St. Patrick High School in Olyphant, PA, from 1957 to 1961; and St. Mary High School in Manhasset, NY, from 1966 to 1983.
Sister also served as a catechetical instructor at St. Ignatius Catechetical Center in Kingston, PA, from 1952 to 1953; and as the alumni office coordinator at St. Mary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1983 to 1994.
From 1994 until the time of her death, Sister Gerarda served in prayer ministry at the Marian Convent.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts degree in English from Duquesne University.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Monica and Ursula; and a brother, W. Gerard.
She is survived by a sister, Margaret McAllister of Huntington, WV; three nieces, Joyce Scanlon of Oxon Hill, MD; Noreen Vickers of Mobile, AL; and Sheila McOwen of Huntington, WV; and two nephews, Joseph Ryan of Sonoma, CA; and Reverend William Ryan, OSA, of Myrtle Creek, OR.
Interment will follow the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
Archival Remembrance of our Sister M. Gerarda Ryan:
A woman of dedication, wit and spunk, Sr. Gerarda, touched the lives of many throughout her more than seven decades of service. Her zest for mission and generous spirit endeared her to students, co-workers, friends and her sisters. She served as a teacher in secondary schools in Pittsburgh; Syracuse, NY; Kingston; Susquehanna; Olyphant; and Manhasset, NY. She also served as the Alumni Office Coordinator at St. Mary School in Manhasset, NY. She was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent from 1994 to the time of her death.
