Sister Gloria Memering: Bringing the music

“To God Through Music” —
Those words have provided “a consistent thread of happiness” throughout the life of Sister Gloria Memering.

Sister Gloria was born into a loving family in Vincennes, Indiana, at the end of the Great Depression. She and her three sisters enjoyed singing songs her mother taught them that their father enjoyed.

She always loved church music. So she was pleased when asked to put her piano and organ abilities into service playing for daily Masses and Sunday Benediction at Saint John’s Grade School.

During her high school years at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she received more piano instruction. She felt privileged to work in the Conservatory with Sister Mary Lourdes who was creating her book series, To God Through Music, for all grade levels.

Her 62 years as a Sister of Providence began in January 1958. Until Sister Gloria’s retirement in 2011, all but five years were spent teaching music in schools and engaging in parish music ministry.

These days she speaks of a “happy retirement with opportunities for sharing music weekly with sisters and friends in health care, serving on receptionist duty and doing a few little jobs that my limited sight allows.”

And she is grateful for “the rich heritage of music that we enjoy in the Chapel.”

(Originally published in the Summer 2020 issue of HOPE magazine.)