In Remembrance

Sister Mary Perpetua Gibson, CSJ

Sister Mary Perpetua Gibson, CSJ, 90, died Saturday, June 23, 2007, in Albany Medical Center. Sister Mary had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 72 years.

 Sister Mary Perpetua, the former June Mary Gibson, was born on June 10, 1917 in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, daughter of the late J. Robert and Ellen McCartt Gibson. She attended grammar school in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and high school at St. Mary’s Institute, Amsterdam. Sister Mary entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph on March 19, 1935 and professed final vows on August 15, 1940. She received a bachelor’s degree in social studies from The College of Saint Rose, Albany, a master’s degree in education from Mount St. Joseph College in Buffalo, and another master’s degree in religious studies, also from Mount St. Joseph College. In addition, Sister Mary pursued post-graduate studies in Scripture, pastoral planning and African Studies. Sister Mary spent 42 years as a teacher, librarian and tutor in schools in the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses and also served for fifteen years in religious education in both dioceses. Since 1995, Sister Mary has been the manager of the Carondelet Shoppe at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham.

Whether Sister Mary was teaching children and adults, making dolls and drapes, cooking soup and bread, or admiring God’s creation, she had a quest for beauty through creativity, and she shared her many gifts freely and generously. Her faith, grace and gentleness brought joy to those around her and a spirit which was serene and, at the same time, exhilarating. Sister Mary was able to pass on to her community and to those with whom she ministered the importance of combining a genuine striving toward excellence with an enchanting appreciation of mystery.

Sister Mary Perpetua is survived by one sister, Margaret Clapper of Amsterdam; two nieces, Frances Murphy of Hemlock, and Margaret Leo of Amsterdam; grandniece, Andrea; grandnephew, Jeffrey; great-grandniece, Rio; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In addition to her parents, Sister Mary was predeceased by three brothers, William, Alfred, and Robert Gibson; three sisters, Helen Fox, Grace Barbuto and Mary Gibson; and many friends in the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sister Mary Perpetua’s funeral Liturgy was celebrated on Tuesday, June 26, in the chapel of St. Joseph’s Provincial House, Latham. Interment was in Our Lady Queen of Virgins Cemetery on the Provincial House grounds.

Contributions in Sister Mary’s memory may be made to the Development Office of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110.