Sister Gertrude Marian Bauer

Sister Gertrude Marian Bauer

Reading from Psalm 100:

All the Earth cry out to you with shouts of joy, O. God. Serving you with gladness; coming before you singing for joy.

“Didn’t we, in our youthful years, come to this place to serve God with gladness and joy? I can see Marie Cecilia Bauer at age 15 coming through the gates of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods wanting to spend her life as a Sister of Providence,” said Sister Mary Pat Peacock in her commentary for Sister Gertrude Marian Bauer who died Jan. 24.

Marie Cecilia Bauer was born Sept. 3, 1912, in Indianapolis to Louis and Mary (Guinan) Bauer. She was one of 12 children. Marie was educated at St. Patrick Elementary School in Indianapolis and the Academy high school at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She entered the Congregation Sept. 7, 1927, and professed first and perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1930, and Aug. 15, 1935, respectively. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in guidance from Xavier University.

Sister Gertrude Marian commenced teaching at St. Mel School in Chicago in 1930. Her teaching and administrative ministries included St. Leo School, Our Lady of Sorrows School, Our Lady of Mercy School, St. Genevieve School, St. Mel-Holy Ghost School, Maternity BVM School, Chicago; Holy Trinity School, Evansville; St. Rita School, Holy Cross School, Indianapolis; Sacred Heart School, Malden, Mass.; St. Mary School, Lafayette, Ind.; Sacred Heart School, Whiting, Ind. She spent four years as administrator of Owens Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, one year as school clerk at St. Michael School, Greenfield, Ind., and seven years as a member of the Health Care Services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

“While she was still in the Novitiate, Sister Gertrude Marian taught Jane Bodine in the fifth grade at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village School. Sister Gertrude Marian was always proud of the fact that the little fifth-grade child, whom she taught as a novice, later entered the Congregation and is now known as Sister Jane Bodine,” Sister Mary Pat said.

“I was told that Sister Gertrude Marian was a very intelligent woman, was a very good teacher and had a wonderful sense of humor. She was also very strict and demanding. She was a hard worker. She did not ask the sisters or teachers to do anything she herself would not do. She was a good provider and enjoyed having a good time. She loved to sing and dance,” Sister Mary Pat continued.

“Usually we say that a sister was a great Notre Dame fan, but not so with Sister Gertrude Marian. She was a Purdue fan, the Boilermakers! Having taught in Lafayette for four years, this makes sense,” Sister Mary Pat recalled.

“Several sisters remarked about sister’s kindness to others, her being available to help others, taking sisters shopping, or wherever else they wanted to go. Sister also involved her family in helping the sisters. Sisters Brendan and Beatrice had many rides with Sister’s brothers to and from the college when they were working on the Community Music Series,” Sister Mary Patricia said.

“One sister remembers that when Sister Gertrude Marian came home to live at Providence, very often she would fill the car and take sisters to the Dairy Queen in Terre Haute or take a group to the hospital to visit the sisters there and then treat them to ice cream. So many times it was mentioned to me that she was kind, unselfish and available. Her love of a good time for herself and for the sisters was very evident to many,” Sister Mary Pat continued.

“Sister Gertrude Marian was a good religious woman. She knew why she was here and she was faithful to her prayer life. She knew she belonged to God. She knew, as Psalm 100 says, that she was to serve God with gladness by serving others.

“Sister Gertrude Marian, continue your life of service and of good times with all your friends in heaven and help us, your sisters here on earth, to continually cry out to God with shouts of joy,” Sister Mary Pat concluded.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Gertrude Marian was celebrated Jan. 30, with the Rev. Daniel Hopcus presiding. She is survived by one brother, James V. Bauer of Roslindale, Mass.