Sister Gilmary Speirs, IHM
Sister Gilmary Speirs, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, September 27, 2014, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was born on February 7, 1931, in New York, NY, and given the name Margaret. She was the daughter of the late James and Mary Hogarty Speirs. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1950, and made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1952, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1955.
Sister Gilmary served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA, from 1952 to 1956; St. Mary’s School in Upper Marlboro, MD, from 1956 to 1961; and South Scranton Catholic High School in Scranton, PA, from 1961 to 1962. From 1962 to 1967, she was the librarian at St. Mary’s Girls High School in Manhasset, NY.
Sister served at Marywood University in Scranton, PA, as the Collection Management Librarian for Non-Print from 1967 to 2010. From 2010 to 2011, she was the Marywood University Centennial Resource Librarian for Photographic Material. She was a member of the Lifelong Learning Institute Senior Program at Marywood University. Sister Gilmary was extraordinary in her dedication to research that was helpful to every member of the Marywood University community. She was a librarian par excellence. She will be missed.
From 2012 to the time of her death, Sister Gilmary served as a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a bachelor of arts degree in English and social sciences, master of science degree in library science, and a master of science degree in religious education, all from Marywood College, Scranton, PA.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Joan Wolf, and Marie McGrath.
She is survived by a sister, Anne Malone of Lenox, MA, nieces and nephews, and the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Tuesday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Monday, September 29, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
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.
Reflections given by Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM Congregation President
Good afternoon, Sisters and Friends.
We gather this afternoon to celebrate the great gift of the life of Sister Gilmary Speirs.
For sixty-three years of religious life, Gilmary witnessed her dedication to God and to serving others. She treasured the gifts of life and learning and taught all of us to do the same. She taught in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Long Island, and all her students were treated with the same kindness and understanding, no doubt, but her wonderful smile was a bit brighter and her energy level a few decibars higher whenever she talked about her beloved Marywood University. Her passion and commitment to the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable in our society, was an example to everyone.
Gilmary will be missed by all of us, but we rejoice that she is now at home with her God and enjoying eternal life with her parents Mary and James and her sisters, Joan and Marie, who preceded her in death. We remember today her sister, Ann, her niece, Ann Marie, and other nieces and nephews, who are unable to be with us for the wake or funeral. We also pray very specially Gilmary’s dear friend, Sandy, the members of her band, and all her many IHM and other friends.
And so, let us pray now in deep gratitude…..
O God of compassion and kindness, we gather today in faith and in gratitude to celebrate the life of our Sister Gilmary Speirs. We know that she is at peace in the arms of her God, for whom she waited so patiently and faithfully especially during these past several weeks. She treasured the gifts of life and learning and taught all of us to do the same. Her days among us spoke of her trust in God and her love for her family and friends, the IHM Congregation, and her beloved Marywood University
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Throughout her sixty-three years of ministry as an IHM, Sister Gilmary’s life was dedicated to God and to serving others. As an educator, she taught with kindness and compassion and her understanding heart touched many. Her years as librarian at Marywood University were especially precious to her; her wonderful smile and gentle caring brightened the lives of every member of the Marywood community. Her passion and commitment to upholding the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable in our society, was a special blessing. She led by example and contributed to a genuine faith community wherever she went.
Sister Gilmary returned to the God she loved on Saturday, September 27th. We can be quite sure of the great joy present at her reunion with her beloved parents, James and Mary Hogarty Speirs, and her sisters, Joan and Marie.
We especially remember today her sister, Anne Malone, her niece, Ann Marie Malone, her other nieces and nephews, her dear friend Sandy, her band members, and all her IHM friends. We pray that God’s own spirit will comfort each of them in their loss.
Thank you, Loving God, for the wonderful gift that Sr. Gilmary was to all of us. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. May her soul rest in peace. Amen.
Sr. Gilmary Speirs, Funeral Mass 9-30-14
Good morning. As we gather in prayer to celebrate the life of Sr. Gilmary, I want to welcome all of her friends who are able to be with us today.
I especially want to thank Father Marty Boylan, a friend of Sr. Gilmary’s, for being here as celebrant.
I also want to welcome Sr. Anne Munley and so many members of the Marywood University faith community, with a special thank you to the Marywood University Honor Guard. I am sure Gilmary is beaming!
I want to thank Srs. Jean, Mary Kay, and Eleanor Mary, the Administrators here at OLP, and the entire staff who gave Sister Gilmary the highest quality of life possible during her time here.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
These words which are on her prayer card certainly speak to us about the entire life of Sr. Gilmary. Throughout her sixty-three years as an IHM, her life was a journey dedicated to building a deep relationship with her God and serving others. She treasured the gifts of life and learning, and, as we heard yesterday, her great joy was to connect people and information because she was convinced that our world and each person could be better if we used our knowledge to help each other. To know Gilmary was to be inspired, and yes, sometimes overwhelmed, by her undaunted enthusiasm and commitment to promoting the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable in our society.
Sr. Gilmary’s love of learning was so evident throughout her days as an educator in schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Long Island. There is no doubt that she treated all her students with the same kindness and understanding that we have known, but, as I noted yesterday, her beautiful smile was a bit brighter and her energy a few decibars higher whenever she talked about her beloved Marywood University. Her gentle and caring heart, her Irish wit, as well as her professionalism touched the lives of every member of the Marywood community and all of us.
I’m sure most of you know about Gilmary’s love of all things Irish. She had a special connection to the AOH, the Ancient Order of Hibernians for the non-Irish among us. I want to read a portion of a tribute to Gilmary written by Gary Duncan, a past president of a local chapter of the AOH:
Sr. Gilmary was an incredible person. She was a true lover of all things Irish. She was a regular attendee at at Our Lady of Knock masses and other Irish events. She was a legend at the Marywood University Library, and throughout the Marywood community. She touched more lives, than just about any single individual I have known. Her loss leaves a terrible void. Ar dheas Dé go raibh a anam Sr. Gilmary Until we meet again, Sr. Gilmary.
Last Saturday morning, Gilmary was welcomed home into the arms of her God, for whom she had waited so patiently and faithfully, especially during these past several weeks. We can certainly envision the great joy of her reunion with her parents, Mary and James, and her sisters, Joan and Marie. I have no doubt God has already been given a few tasks to do by Gilmary!
We remember today very specially Gilmary’s sister, Ann, her niece, Ann Marie, and other nieces and nephews, who are unable to be with us. Let us also keep Gilmary’s dear friend, Sandy, the members of her band, and all her many IHM and other friends in our thoughts and prayers.
will now place the scriptures on Gilmary’s casket, for she heard the Word of God, she staked her life upon it and received life to the full . . . the Word now beckons her home.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2015 issue
How can one best describe Sister Gilmary? A Renaissance woman, a woman with a whole-hearted love of Marywood University, a true daughter of Ireland, a deeply devoted and loyal IHM sister, a loyal friend, a person with strong convictions, a master at her life’s work as a librarian and media specialist. To write a full description about Sister Gilmary would be a much longer document than is possible for this publication.
I have known Sister Gilmary since the novitiate but real acquaintance stems from my time at Marywood and the IHM Center. For about fifteen years I vacationed yearly with Gil and four or five other sisters. Since Sister Gilmary was a voracious reader, she was constantly trying to pass on wonderful books or magazine articles to others who may or may not have been eager for the suggestion. One sister’s remark which rang true with me was, “Gil makes me so mad, for whenever I read what she suggests I always like it.”
In thinking back over her years at the university, forty plus I believe, there are many other aspects to mention. Sister Gilmary was truly kind to older sisters and the elderly relatives of our sisters and Marywood retirees. Nothing was ever too much to do for them. Everyone I think is also aware of her love for life in all stages, evidenced by her yearly participation in the Right to Life March in February. Weather was never a consideration for her and she was recognized for being among the marchers for thirty-five years.
To conclude, it would be imperative to speak of her deep prayer life, her uncomplaining acceptance of illness and family tragedies, and the love she engendered in those she taught and mentored. She was truly blessed among women.
by Sister M. Alphonsa Concilio, IHM
