A funeral Mass for Sister Margaret Mary Gibson, VHM, was celebrated Jan. 22 in the chapel of Visitation Academy. Sister Margaret Mary died Jan. 16. She was 89 years old.
Mary Ann Gibson was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on April 27, 1932, to Edwin S. Gibson and Madeline McCarthy Gibson. After attending the Academy of the Visitation in St. Louis, Sister Margaret Mary entered the Visitation of Holy Mary community on Aug. 21, 1950. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1957 and a master’s degree in history and certification in administration from Saint Louis University. Sister Margaret Mary fulfilled many roles in her religious community and at Visitation Academy for more than 60 years, including history teacher (high school), principal (elementary and high school), novice director and director of admissions. She was seen as a leader in each of these roles, serving with Salesian simplicity, having only the desire and goal of pleasing God. She valued the truth and lived her faith with honesty.
Sister Margaret Mary retired from active ministry after a series of health issues in 2012. She moved to Catherine’s Residence in Frontenac in the spring of 2014. She loved to participate in many of the activities at Visitation Academy and nearly all of those at Catherine’s Residence, where her community moved in September 2014.
Her loving advice to all was a quote from St. Francis de Sales: “Do not look forward with anxiety to what may happen tomorrow. The same Everlasting Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either God will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.”
Burial was at Calvary Cemetery.
