Sr. Gertrude Fawls, OSF [formerly Sr. Geraldine] of Stella Niagara, NY, passed February 24, 2017. Born in Buffalo, NY, on October 23, 1923, the daughter of the late E. Joseph and Agnes [Cronin] Fawls.
Sr. Gertrude entered the Sisters of St. Francis on September 7, 1941 and was Professed on August 18, 1946.
Sister Gertrude attended Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. She received her BS in Education from Rosary Hill (Daemen) College and MS in Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Sister taught at St. Joachim, St. Michael, St. Benedict, and Daemen Children’s Learning Center in Buffalo, NY; St. Joseph, Gowanda, NY; St. Peter, Lewiston, NY; and Stella Niagara Education Park, Stella Niagara, NY; Holy Rosary, St. John and St. Leo, in Columbus, Ohio; St. Rose, New Lexington, Ohio; St. Paul, Athens, Ohio; St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey; Sacred Heart and St. Anthony in Charleston, W.Va.
Sister Gertrude served as Sacristan at Stella Niagara Convent beginning in 1989 and retired there in 2005. She became a resident of the Stella Niagara Health Center in May 2008.
Survived by her brother Robert Fawls and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was the sister of the late Joseph, Mary, Agnes, John, Margaret, Sr. M. Joanne, OSF, Rose, Eugene, Dolores and Daniel Fawls.
Sr. Gertrude will be waked Monday from 3-7PM at Stella Niagara, with a Prayer Service at 7PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday at 10 AM in the Sister’s Chapel, with her nephew Rev. Daniel Fawls officiating.
Memorials to Sisters of St. Francis, Stella Niagara, NY 14144.
Visit rhoneyfuneralhome.com for guest register.
