Mary Louise Shewan, known to her family as "Mary Lou," was born February 4, 1935 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Her father, William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973), was an immigrant from London, England. Her mother, Louisa Sauer Shewan (1896 - 1984), was the daughter of a German immigrant and his American-born wife of German ancestry. Mary Lou was her parents' youngest of five children.
Mary Lou grew up at her parents' home on the 2800 block of Washington Avenue in Erie. She attended Blessed Sacrament School (grades 1 - 8), graduating in 1948. She attended Villa Maria Academy and graduated in June 1952.
Soon after high school graduation, Mary Lou entered the religious life as a nun, taking the religious name of Sister Gerald Marie. She chose her name in honor of her brother, Gerald (1923 - 2020). She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania on 7 Oct 1952 and professed her final vows on April 6th, 1953. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1963 from Villa Maria College. She taught in various elementary schools in the Diocese of Erie for 14 years. She left the religious life in June 1966.
After leaving the convent, Mary Lou was an office worker at Frylings Manufacturing plant in Erie for a year. She then taught in the field of special education in the Erie Public School System until the early 1970s. In 1971 she attended Edinboro State College for training in Special Education. In August 1972 she received her Master of Education degree from Millersville State College (now University).
In 1972 Mary Lou moved to Edgewater, Maryland, where she taught in the Harford County Public schools until her retirement in 1995. In August 1997 she moved to Sarasota, Florida.
Mary Lou died on September 2, 2020. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 10 at St. Thomas More Church in Sarasota. Burial followed in the Memorial Garden at the Church.
Mary Lou's obituary was published in the September 16th, 2020 edition of the Erie TImes-News (PA), page A6.
Mary Lou grew up at her parents' home on the 2800 block of Washington Avenue in Erie. She attended Blessed Sacrament School (grades 1 - 8), graduating in 1948. She attended Villa Maria Academy and graduated in June 1952.
Soon after high school graduation, Mary Lou entered the religious life as a nun, taking the religious name of Sister Gerald Marie. She chose her name in honor of her brother, Gerald (1923 - 2020). She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania on 7 Oct 1952 and professed her final vows on April 6th, 1953. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1963 from Villa Maria College. She taught in various elementary schools in the Diocese of Erie for 14 years. She left the religious life in June 1966.
After leaving the convent, Mary Lou was an office worker at Frylings Manufacturing plant in Erie for a year. She then taught in the field of special education in the Erie Public School System until the early 1970s. In 1971 she attended Edinboro State College for training in Special Education. In August 1972 she received her Master of Education degree from Millersville State College (now University).
In 1972 Mary Lou moved to Edgewater, Maryland, where she taught in the Harford County Public schools until her retirement in 1995. In August 1997 she moved to Sarasota, Florida.
Mary Lou died on September 2, 2020. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 10 at St. Thomas More Church in Sarasota. Burial followed in the Memorial Garden at the Church.
Mary Lou's obituary was published in the September 16th, 2020 edition of the Erie TImes-News (PA), page A6.
Mary Louise Shewan, known to her family as "Mary Lou," was born February 4, 1935 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Her father, William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973), was an immigrant from London, England. Her mother, Louisa Sauer Shewan (1896 - 1984), was the daughter of a German immigrant and his American-born wife of German ancestry. Mary Lou was her parents' youngest of five children.
Mary Lou grew up at her parents' home on the 2800 block of Washington Avenue in Erie. She attended Blessed Sacrament School (grades 1 - 8), graduating in 1948. She attended Villa Maria Academy and graduated in June 1952.
Soon after high school graduation, Mary Lou entered the religious life as a nun, taking the religious name of Sister Gerald Marie. She chose her name in honor of her brother, Gerald (1923 - 2020). She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania on 7 Oct 1952 and professed her final vows on April 6th, 1953. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1963 from Villa Maria College. She taught in various elementary schools in the Diocese of Erie for 14 years. She left the religious life in June 1966.
After leaving the convent, Mary Lou was an office worker at Frylings Manufacturing plant in Erie for a year. She then taught in the field of special education in the Erie Public School System until the early 1970s. In 1971 she attended Edinboro State College for training in Special Education. In August 1972 she received her Master of Education degree from Millersville State College (now University).
In 1972 Mary Lou moved to Edgewater, Maryland, where she taught in the Harford County Public schools until her retirement in 1995. In August 1997 she moved to Sarasota, Florida.
Mary Lou died on September 2, 2020. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 10 at St. Thomas More Church in Sarasota. Burial followed in the Memorial Garden at the Church.
Mary Lou's obituary was published in the September 16th, 2020 edition of the Erie TImes-News (PA), page A6.
Mary Lou grew up at her parents' home on the 2800 block of Washington Avenue in Erie. She attended Blessed Sacrament School (grades 1 - 8), graduating in 1948. She attended Villa Maria Academy and graduated in June 1952.
Soon after high school graduation, Mary Lou entered the religious life as a nun, taking the religious name of Sister Gerald Marie. She chose her name in honor of her brother, Gerald (1923 - 2020). She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania on 7 Oct 1952 and professed her final vows on April 6th, 1953. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1963 from Villa Maria College. She taught in various elementary schools in the Diocese of Erie for 14 years. She left the religious life in June 1966.
After leaving the convent, Mary Lou was an office worker at Frylings Manufacturing plant in Erie for a year. She then taught in the field of special education in the Erie Public School System until the early 1970s. In 1971 she attended Edinboro State College for training in Special Education. In August 1972 she received her Master of Education degree from Millersville State College (now University).
In 1972 Mary Lou moved to Edgewater, Maryland, where she taught in the Harford County Public schools until her retirement in 1995. In August 1997 she moved to Sarasota, Florida.
Mary Lou died on September 2, 2020. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 10 at St. Thomas More Church in Sarasota. Burial followed in the Memorial Garden at the Church.
Mary Lou's obituary was published in the September 16th, 2020 edition of the Erie TImes-News (PA), page A6.
