Born to Eternal Life We commend to your charity the soul of our beloved Funeral: Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 3:00 p.m.
“We shall draw waters, singing joyfully, from the wellsprings of salvation.” (Isaiah 12) As the hymns of the Christmas season still resonated at Providence Heights , Sister Georgianna prepared to make the most important journey of her life. She died as she had lived, peacefully and joyfully, even after a lengthy struggle with illness. Born Myrtle, the daughter of George and Anna Schwender and one of seven siblings, she entered the Congregation while still in her teens, from Wheeling , West Virginia . Her sister, Sister Mary Cecilia, already a member of the Community, encouraged her in her vocation and prepared the way for her entrance. In terms of ministry, however, Sister Georgianna's direction differed from that of her dietician-sister. She chose the ministry of education. Both in terms of personality and talents, this was an excellent fit. Sister Georgianna was a person endowed with exuberance and high energy. Also, she possessed a great sense of humor, which she enhanced by maintaining a rich collection of jokes. Throughout her life she taught middle grades, serving longer in Rochester , Monaca and Dover , Ohio . Several of her students felt a deep debt of gratitude to her and kept in contact with her into her years in retirement. She “retired” to the Provincial House in 1977 only to begin a new profession, that of Assistant Librarian in the Alpha School . Not only did she master the skills of cataloguing and filing, but, more importantly, she delighted in working with children on a more individualized basis, helping them with projects and assignments. Her participation in Community was equally as exuberant as her approach to school. She enjoyed community gatherings, and participated fully in the liturgical life of the group until very recently. Even after she was confined to bed, she would still ask questions about community projects and gatherings. Approximately a week prior to her death, when the chaplain visited and inquired about her age, she quipped that she was “at least 107!” As she is now reunited with her family and friends in eternity and joins the God whom she served so faithfully, she might well proclaim: I arise with amazement at the presence of the Holy One; (Joyce Rupp) Feast Day: April 23 SMJC Sister Georgianna Schwender, 93, died of congestive heart failure in the infirmary of the Sisters of Divine Providence early Tuesday morning, January 11, 2005 . On the occasion of her 75 th anniversary in religious life in 2001, Sister Georgianna stated that entering the convent was a “turning point” in her life. She entered at the age of 15 from St. Alphonsus parish in Wheeling , WV . One of seven children, she described herself as joyful and peaceful. She was a gentle woman who treated everyone with kindness. Sister Georgianna attended Divine Providence Academy and earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Duquesne University . Her first assignment was at St. Cecilia (Rochester, PA; 1929-36). She loved her students and taught for nearly 50 years. Her assignments included St. John's in Monaca for six years, Sacred Heart (Tarentum; 1962-64), St. Joseph 's (Dover, OH; 1951-56) and other schools throughout the Pittsburgh diocese including St. Norbert (Overbrook), St. Basil's (Carrick), and St. Alphonsus ( Springdale ). Sister Georgianna entered semi-retirement in 1977 but continued to work with elementary students as a volunteer in the Providence Heights Alpha School library. In her later years, she was active in the ministry of prayer. She was preceded in death by her parents George and Anna Susanna Kraft Schwender, four brothers, John, Lawrence , Joseph and three sisters, Mary Agnes Berry, Julia Schmuck and Sister M. Cecilia, CDP. She is survived by cousins, nieces and nephews, and 1,000 Sisters of Divine Providence and Associates throughout the world. Friends received at Providence Heights on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from Noon to 3 p.m. Funeral Mass Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Mother of Divine Providence Chapel. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Divine Providence Ministry Fund, 9000 Babcock Boulevard , Allison Park, PA 15101. |
