Mary Eileen Gleason, SP
June 15, 1918 - August 6, 2010
Obituary
Sister Mary Eileen Gleason, SP
Religious Name: Sr. Maria Theresa
Sr. Mary Gleason, SP died on Friday, August 6, 2010, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington at 92 years of age, after 74 years as a Sister of Providence. The Vigil Service will be at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 15, 2010 at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 16, 2010 at the same location. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington is in charge of the arrangements.
Sister Mary was born to Martin and Clara Katzer Gleason at Providence Hospital in Seattle, WA on June 15, 1918. She had five brothers and one sister. Her parents were loving and kind, engendering in their children a sensitivity to one another and a spirit of cooperation.
She attended Holy Rosary School and Holy Names Academy in Seattle. During her junior year at Holy Names, she received permission to leave school to enter the Sisters of Providence on February 2, 1935. She finished high school during her first year as a novice.
Sister Mary made her first profession on February 28, 1937 and her final vows on February 28, 1940. She was taught by the Tacoma Dominicans and had one aunt in that community. She also had an aunt in the Holy Names Community and another aunt, Sister Agnes Stella, was a Sister of Providence.
Academic accomplishments included: Bachelor’s Degree in English and her teaching certificate from the College of Great Falls now University of Great Falls, 1942; Religious Personnel Development, Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, MO, 1962-63; Secondary and Principal Certification, Seattle University, 1966; and Master’s Degree in English, University of Portland, 1966. She spent 34 years in the teaching field.
Her ministry assignments included: Sacred Heart School, Tacoma, WA 3/18/37-6/15/37; Holy Rosary School, Moxee, WA 1937-38; Providence Academy Providence of the Holy Angels, Vancouver, WA 1939-40, 43-45, 61-62; Holy Family School, Seattle, WA 1940-43; St. Joseph Academy, Yakima, WA 45-55; Providence High School, Burbank, CA 1955-61; John F. Kennedy High School, Burien, WA 1966-70; Immaculate High School, Seattle, WA 1970-71.
Sister Mary was one of the foundresses of Providence High School, Burbank, California, and also served as principal 1955-1961. She helped set up the curriculum for John F. Kennedy Memorial High School now known as John F. Kennedy Catholic High School. She served 14 years on the Sacred Heart Province Provincial Council as Provincial Secretary and also Corporate Secretary. Sister Mary devoted herself to the Health System now Providence Health & Services for four years of service on the Board of Directors and a year as Chair of the Mission Committee. She had the opportunity to be a charter member of the restructured Providence Health Care Board from 1991-1994.
As an English major, Sister Mary was given the assignment of completing the Bell and the River book upon the death of Sister Mary of the Blessed Sacrament who had completed three-fourths of the book about the life of Mother Joseph, the foundress of the Sisters of Providence in the Western United States. Sister Mary then went on to write an abbreviated volume on Mother Joseph entitled He Has Given Me a Flame, which was completed for the Providence collection and circulated in 1992.
She retired in 1994 and, after suffering a stroke in 2001, she was cared for at home by her dear friend, Sr. Patricia Eley, for four years. Sr. Mary moved to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington in 2006. She enjoyed reading and taking walks along Alki Beach.
She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Eleanor Gleason of Federal Way, Washington, several nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
My time as a student of Sister Mary at St. Joseph Academy was truly special. I shall always remember her in my prayers.
One of my favorite teachers from SJA 1954. Rest in peace.
I had Sr.Maria Theresa as my teacher in the 4th. grade at Holy Rosary school in Moxee in 1939. What a wonderful teacher & person! I truly loved her,—she has always been very special to me.
Sr Maria Theresa was my freshman home-room teacher at Providence Academy, Vancouver, WA, in 1961. She also wrote a letter of recommendation for me when applying for the University of Portland. She will live on in the lives and memories of her students.
I had Sister Maria Theresa for English at John F Kennedy high school. She was a remarkable teacher and had an ability to convey her love of English and reading to her students. Without her I would never known the meaning of “vade mecum”.
Sister Marie Theresa was my great Aunt – my Grandfather Leo Gleason of Issaquah, Wn. brother Martin’s daughter.. She was a nun at the St. Thomas Orphange where I was from age 2 to 4. in 1948. She made me a beautiful dress which she croqueted for my 1st communion and at age 70 I still have it and cherish it dearly. She was always kind and loving and helped me deal with the seperation from my mother at the time. I will add a photo later.