Sister M. Myra Gilbart, IHM

Sister M. Myra Gilbart, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on June 6, 1934, in Baltimore, MD, and given the name Gloria Gladys, Sister Myra was the daughter of the late Thomas Edgar and Marguerite Neville Gilbart. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1958, made temporary profession of her vows on March 11, 1961, and final profession of her vows on March 11, 1966. Sister Myra received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education/business education, a Master of Science degree in counselor education, and a Master of Science degree in religious studies, all from Marywood College.

Sister Myra served as a teacher at the following schools: Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1961 to 1966; Our Lady of Peace Elementary School in Clarks Green, PA, from 1966 to 1971; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1971 to 1974; Archbishop Neale Elementary School in La Plata, MD, from 1974 to 1976 and 1990 to 1992; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Clinton, MD, from 1976 to 1979; St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1979 to 1981; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School in Rocky Mount, NC, from 1981 to 1988; St. Paul Elementary School in New Bern, NC, from 1988 to 1990; and St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, MD, from 1992 to 1994.

Sister also served as director of religious education at St. Mary’s Parish in Rockville, MD, from 1994 to 1996.

At St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, MD, Sister Myra served from 1996 to 2009 in the follow capacities, assistant principal, guidance counselor, instructor, and special services coordinator.  She also served as a pastoral minister to the sick and homebound at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, from 2009 to 2016.

Sister also served as an instructor in the Educational Enrichment Institute at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 2016 to 2022.

From 2022 until the time of her death, Sister Myra was a prayer minister at the IHM Center and Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.  

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Frederick William Gilbart and Dr. Thomas Edgar Gilbart, Jr. Sister Myra is survived by a brother, Dr. James William Gilbart of Baltimore, MD; three sisters, Sister Mary Mercy Gilbart, IHM, of Scranton, PA, Sister Mary Gilbart, D.C., of Emmitsburg, MD, and Catherine Kaye of Millsboro, DE; and nieces and nephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Wednesday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Wednesday, March 12, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Wednesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer and Funeral Mass

Reflection

Given by Sister Suzie Armbruster, IHM Leadership Team Member

Today we gather to celebrate the life of our Sister Myra and offer our support to Myra’s family, especially her sisters, Sister Mary Mercy, Sister Mary, and Catherine, and her brother, James, as well as her many nieces and nephews. Sister Myra, Aunt Gloria treasured each of you and spoke of you all with pride and joy.

Born on June 6, 1934 and given the name Gloria Gladys by her parents Thomas and Marguerite Gilbart, Myra was # 1 in the line-up of the Gilbart children. She was raised in Baltimore, a city that remained an integral part of her identity. Within our IHM congregation, the Baltimore sisters formed a bond as strong as family—one built on loyalty, love and, of course, a bit of Baltimorean stubbornness. Their bond was very much like blood family; in a family, members can agree and disagree but if someone else tried, they banded together, because outsiders can’t cross that Baltimorean threshold.

I had the privilege of serving with Myra in Rocky Mount, NC, during the early 1980s. Our Lady of Perpetual Help was a small school in a small town where the Catholic community was a minority. We lived in a small house which was much different from our big, three-story convents in the North. Myra had already been there for two years. She eagerly took me under her wing to share the diverse culture of a Catholic school where Catholic children were the minority.

Myra loved sharing her wisdom—but if you needed a quick answer that was another story. Asking Myra a question in the morning was an adventure which lasted most of the day! It started in kitchen, went across the street, into the school, and to the classroom door. Myra had a special way of talking–and sometimes she would forget the point she was trying to make. Most of the time it involved “round abouts” and we would laugh for that was part of her unique charm.

Myra was a gifted teacher, beloved by her students! Her classroom was always filled with laughter and joy, and often the laughter and joy would spill into the hallway of our tiny school. We knew our dinner conversation would be entertaining as she turned everyday moments into stories.

Life in our small convent was different from what we had known before. We cooked our her wing to share the diverse culture of a Catholic school where Catholic children were the minority. Myra loved sharing her wisdom—but if you needed a quick answer that was another story. Asking Myra a question in the morning was an adventure which lasted most of the day! It started in kitchen, went across the street, into the school, and to the classroom door. Myra had a special way of talking–and sometimes she would forget the point she was trying to make. Most of the time it involved “round abouts” and we would laugh for that was part of her unique charm.

Myra was a gifted teacher, beloved by her students! Her classroom was always filled with laughter and joy, and often the laughter and joy would spill into the hallway of our tiny school. We knew our dinner conversation would be entertaining as she turned everyday moments into stories.

Life in our small convent was different from what we had known before. We cooked our own meals, entertained ourselves and took long car rides ALL together, ALL the time. Often these trips took us to the beach or to community meetings. If it was a holiday, our trip included a stop in Baltimore to drop Myra off with her mother. Despite being a native Baltimorean, Myra’s directions home were also “round abouts”—so much so that we eventually kept an index card with the “official” directions to mom Gilbart’s house.

Myra was always eager to help, whether it was with shopping, cooking, decorating or any other household or community task. She was always there. She was always kind and full of joy. She may not have been the most punctual – operating on “Myra time” but she was never in a rush. She embraced life with Southern ease, never worrying about the clock, a trait she embodied well. We learned to tell her a different time the car would be leaving, in order to arrive at the event on time.

Myra was a gifted teacher and her presence in a school was treasured. She embraced innovations in teaching. She was among the first to introduce computers in her classroom—though let’s be honest, part of the excitement was letting her students play Oregon Trail.

Later in life, Myra left the classroom and dedicated herself to pastoral care in parish ministry, serving in faith formation, visiting the elderly, the sick and the homebound. Each visit brought her signature warmth and compassion She was there to listen, but we all know she probably did plenty of the talking and sharing of stories as well.

Myra had two speeds—talking fast or sleeping. Saturday mornings were a sacred time for sleeping in and enjoying a leisurely brunch.

And there were many adventures. One Holy Week, Myra volunteered her students to hide eggs for my class. I assumed they were simply hiding eggs and filling treat bags for later. What I didn’t realize was that they had filled the eggs with chocolate and the North Carolina 95-degree heat melted every single one. When the little ones cracked open their eggs, they were greeted with a gooey surprise!

Now, Myra, you are finally home embracing your parents and family, meeting Padre Pio, and asking God a few questions. You are free of pain, free of time, and free to sleep in. Share your gift of kindness, wonder and awe—and if there is an angel band— be sure to grab your flute and play.

You will be deeply missed, especially by your family and your beloved Baltimore contingency. Soar now, fly high with the angels with that ever-present sparkle in your eye. Rest in peace, dear Myra, you are loved.