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Sister Maria Gerard Jesep, OSBM
Sister Maria Gerard Jesep, OSBM, died Saturday, February 8, 2025. She was 88.
Born Maria Jesep in Trostianec, Ukraine, she was a daughter of the late Jurij and Maria (Kurlak) Jesep. She and her family traveled from Bremerhaven, Germany aboard the USS General Sturgis bound for Boston, Massachusetts; their final destination was Lackawanna, New York.
Maria was a graduate of Public School #12 in Troy, NY and Watervliet High School. She entered the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great on January 9, 1958, and took her first vows on July 19, 1960 with her Solemn Profession of her Final Vows on August 25, 1963. Sister Maria Gerard took classes at Manor Junior College and continued her education at Fordham University where she earned her BA in Elementary Education in 1969. She later earned her MA in Elementary Education at Fordham in 1976.
Her ministries were extensive as both teacher and principal at many parish schools: St. John the Baptist in Northampton, PA from 1960 to 1962; St. George Elementary in New York, NY from 1962 to 1977; SS Peter & Paul in Jersey City, NJ from 1977 to 1978; St. Josaphat in Parma, OH from 1978 to 1981 and then again from 1990 to 1997; and St. Nicholas in Chicago, IL where she served from 1981 to 1990 and again from 1997 to 2019. Sister Maria Gerard retired in 2019 and spent her last years at the Sisters of St. Basil Motherhouse in Jenkintown, PA
Sister Maria Gerard is survived by her brother Dmytro Jesep (the late Gloria) and her sister Cathy Murray Whitcomb (William); she is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister Anna Zerebynsky (the late John).
The viewing with Parastas was held February 12, and her funeral with Requiem Liturgy was held February 13, at Holy Trinity Chapel. Burial followed at St. Basil’s Convent Cemetery in Jenkintown.