SISTER MARY GABRIEL PHELAN, CSJ, 91, died June 30 in Villa St. Joseph, Baden, in her 76th year as a Sister of St. Joseph. The daughter of the late James and Anne O’Donnell Phelan, Sister Mary Gabriel entered the Congregation from Nativity Parish, Pittsburgh.

For more than 35 years Sister ministered as a teacher in Pittsburgh Diocesan Schools including St. Bernard School, Mt. Lebanon, from 1948–1955. Sister Mary Gabriel served as principal at St. Bede School, Pittsburgh, Blessed Sacrament School, Natrona Heights, and as the first principal at Holy Rosary School, Perrine, FL, from 1959–1965.

After a year as an Exchange Teacher at St. Margaret of Scotland School in Luton, England, Sister taught at St. James School in Sewickley and at Fontbonne Academy, Bethel Park, PA. From 1976–1986 Sister Mary Gabriel ministered as the Director of Foundations at Crosspoint Communications Center in Pittsburgh. She then retired to the Motherhouse in Baden where she continued to be a consultant for Foundation and Grant writing for another 8 years.

Sister Mary Gabriel was one of 20 teachers chosen to teach on television station WQED from 1955–1959 in an experiment funded by the Ford Foundation. Sister Mary Gabriel was the sister of Sister Carolyn Phelan, a Sister of St. Joseph, who preceded her in death. Sister Mary Gabriel is survived by one sister: Eulalia Phelan, Pittsburgh, one brother, Francis Phelan, Albuquerque, New Mexico, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grand nephews, and 238 Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden.

Friends will be received Monday from 1–8 p.m. and Tuesday from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Sisters’ Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds. Donations in he name of Sister Mary Gabriel may be sent to the Sisters of St. Joseph Memorial Fund, St. Joseph Convent, 1020 State Street, Baden, PA 15005.

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1020 State Street, Baden PA 15005
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