A funeral Mass for Sister Geralyn Marie Schneider was celebrated Oct. 6 at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton. Sister Geralyn of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary died Sept. 29 at the age of 81.
Mary Le Ann Schneider was born on Dec. 19, 1943, in St. Louis, one of six children to Knute Francis and LeAnn (Dohogne) Schneider. Her mother suffered rubella during the pregnancy, and Mary Le Ann was born with a hearing deficit.
After working for a summer at Mount St. Rose, Mary Le Ann entered the Sisters of St. Mary on Aug. 28, 1960. She received the name Sister Geralyn Marie, and she professed final vows Sept. 8, 1968. (In 1987 the Sisters of St. Mary reunited with the Sisters of St. Francis of Maryville, Missouri, as the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.)
Sister Geralyn earned a certificate in cosmetology from Excella Beauty College (1974), an associate’s degree in applied science-human services from Florissant Valley Community College (1984), a certificate in pastoral ministry from the Chicago Catholic Deaf/Lay Ministry (2000), and a bachelor’s degree in religious and pastoral studies from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati (2005).
Sister Geralyn worked in the convent dining room and housekeeping and as a dietary aide. She served as a laboratory aide in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1972. After her cosmetology course, she cared for the sisters’ hair and for homebound clients’ hair. She volunteered to help students with learning disabilities, teaching them cosmetology and personal hygiene. From 1976-77, she was a junior instructor at the Excella School of Cosmetology. From 1992-97, she served as a professional cosmetologist at Dillard’s and Famous-Barr department stores.
She founded the Self-Help for Hard of Hearing (SHHH) support group in 1984, serving as president from 1988-90. She founded the Cochlear Implant Support Group and was an international board member from 1990-93.
From 1998-2012, she volunteered at St. Rita’s School for the Deaf in Cincinnati as religious education teacher, substitute teacher and aide. She also was involved in parish ministry, including as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, helping with the youth religion program, bereavement support and children’s liturgy.
Sister Geralyn retired and moved to The Sarah Community in January 2012, where she volunteered for several years. She recently moved to Mother of Good Counsel Home in Northwoods.
Sister Geralyn enjoyed family and friends, scrapbooking and creating cards, after-school crafts and teaching aids. She cherished sharing her God-given gifts with others. “I strive daily to deepen my commitment to my Spouse so that I might share His light with others,” she said.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
