Sister Genna Hibser, O.S.B., 1928-2010

Sister Genna (Mary Michael) Hibser, O.S.B., 82, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, at the monastery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Mary Monastery Chapel.  Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, is assisting with arrangements.

Georgianna Hibser was born Feb. 12, 1928, in St. David, Ill., a daughter of Frank and Johanna Shragal Hibser.  She attended St. Boniface School, Peoria, Ill., and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, and a master’s in religious education from St. Meinrad, St. Meinrad, Ind.

Georgianna entered the Benedictine community on Sept. 8, 1946.  She made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on July 12, 1948.  Her ministry included serving as an elementary teacher, music instructor and/or principal at St. Anthony’s, Atkinson, St. John’s, Clinton, Ill.; St. Mary’s, Moline; St. Thomas More, Munster, Ind.; St. Roch’s, LaSalle, Ill; St. Joseph’s, Ivesdale, Ill.; Immaculate Conception, Monmouth; and St. Boniface and Holy Family, Peoria.  Sister Genna did pastoral care and liturgy at St. Mary’s, Moline, and St. Maria Goretti in Coal Valley, and evangelization at St. Joseph’s, Pekin, Ill., and Munster.  She was also a student recruiter for St. Mary’s Academy.

She is survived by Her Benedictine Sisters and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers; and nine sisters.