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, PA.

She was born on May 10, 1902, in Boston, MA, 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 temporary profession of her vows on December 29, 1927, and final profession of her 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’s 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 the alumni office coordinator at St. Mary’s School in Manhasset, NY, from 1983 to 1994.

From 1994 until the time of her death, Sister Gerarda was a prayer minister 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 Ryan, and a brother, William Gerard.

She is survived by a sister, Margaret Mary 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.

The funeral will be Friday, November 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent, followed by interment at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call Thursday at the Marian Convent from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.

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Archival Remembrance:

A woman of dedication, wit and spunk, Sister 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’s School in Manhasset, NY. She was a prayer minister at the Marian Convent from 1994 to the time of her death.