Obituary of Sr. Mary Geis
Mercy Sister Mary Catherine Geis, formerly Sister Mary Kevin, was born on October 13, 1932, in Woodbridge, New Jersey. She was the youngest of six children of Hugo and Catherine Pero Geis, both now deceased. She credited her parents with preparing her for the religious vocation she would eventually embrace. The Sisters of Mercy also had an influence on Mary. They taught in the schools Mary attended: St. James Elementary School, Woodbridge, NJ, St. Mary High School, Perth Amboy, NJ, and Georgian Court College (now University) in Lakewood, NJ where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1954. After graduation in 1954, she taught third grade for two years at St. Cecilia Elementary School, Iselin, NJ while living at home, caring for her father. Her mother had died in 1952.
On September 8, 1956, Sister Mary responded to a call she felt, and entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy at Mount Saint Mary in Watchung, NJ. She matriculated at Villanova University, Villanova, PA, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in secondary education and a Master of Arts degree in English. She also took courses at The Catholic University of America, Trenton State College, and The University of San Francisco.
Sister Mary taught in many schools throughout New Jersey: Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, Cathedral High School, Trenton, St. Mary High School, South Amboy, and Holy Spirit High School, Absecon. In 1981, Sister Mary returned to Mount Saint Mary Academy and taught there for 15 years. In 1996, after a 42-year teaching career, Sister Mary retired from teaching and became the Administrative Assistant to the Leadership Team. In 2000, together with Mercy Sister Judy Ward, she became co-director of communications for the Sisters of Mercy.
In June of 2008, Sister Mary became a resident of McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, NJ, where she resided until her death, at the age of 91, on November 18, 2023.
Sister Mary is survived by her brother, Joseph, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth, and many loving nieces and nephews.
The services will be held at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, NJ on Saturday, November 25, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. There will be a “Welcome Home” prayer service at 10:00 a.m. with an opportunity to share memories of Sister Mary. The Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. The burial will take place on Monday, November 27 at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield, NJ
If you cannot attend and would like to share a memory, please email Sister Eileen Smith at sr.eileen@msmhope.org.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1645 US Highway 22, Watchung, NJ 07069. Thank you!
