Sister Maria Gerald Shanley, IHM
Sister Maria Gerald Shanley, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, October 7, 1998 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on January 12, 1903, in Waymart, Pennsylvania, and given the name Beatrice. She was the daughter of the late Michael J. and Anna D. Moran Shanley. She entered the IHM Congregation on December 27, 1927, made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1930, and her final profession of vows on August 1, 1933.
Sister Maria Gerald served as a teacher at the following schools: Cathedral Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1930 to 1952; Regional Catholic Elementary School in Mount Holly, NJ, from 1952 to 1964; Holy Name of Jesus Elementary Schoolin Forty Forty, PA, from 1964 to 1966; St. Rosalia Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1966 to 1970; St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA, from 1970 to 1974; St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1974 to 1976; Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1976 to 1977; and St. Clare Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1977 to 1982.
From 1982 until the time of her death, Sister Maria Gerald served as a Telespond volunteer and prayer minster at Marian Convent.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Marywood College.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Gerald, and four sisters, Mary Frances (infant), Florence S. Boland, Anne Gillespie and Alice Reap.
She is survived by the following nieces and nephews: Nancy Kelly of Clarks Summit, PA, Mary Clare McTigue of Philadelphia, PA, Beatrice Robbins of Glen Arm, MD, Mary Jane Gillespie of Scranton, PA, Mary Anne McDonald of Somerset, NJ, Jane Bohan of Stroudsburg, PA, Mary Emery of Hollywood, FL, James Gillespie of Issue, MD, Michael Reap of Chicago, IL, and Paul Shanley of Long Island, NY.
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:
Sr. Maria Gerald spent her life proclaiming the love of God through a gentle presence and a strong commitment to ministry. The witness of her life for 71 years as an IHM sister was a reminder of the presence of God in the world to the many students whose lives she touched. Her ministry as a teacher brought her to several schools located around Pennsylvania.
