Sister Mary Martin Gehl, OSB papers

Sister Mary Martin Gehl, OSB was born Helen Marie Gehl on February 20th, 1916 in Mason City, Iowa. She had diffiulty walking from birth, often visiting doctors via freight car, and would remember the kindness of rail conductors all her life. Sister attended both public and parochial schools in Iowa, Josephinum High School in Chicago, Loyola and DePaul Universities, Loretta Heights College in Colorado, and Mt. St. Scholastica College in Kansas. She entered the community on September 8th, 1940, making her perpetual vows in 1945.

Sister served as a teacher in both Illinois and Colorado. In Chicago, she worked at St. Joseph, St. Hilary, and St. Symphorosa. In Illinois, she taught at Mother of God in Waukegan and St. Lambert in Skokie. In Colorado, she taught at the Canon City Academy, as well as summer catechetical schools in Alamosa and Westcliffe. Besides teaching, she was very active within community. Sister served as the Priory's Manager of Food Service from 1970-1973, was a member of several committees such as the Social Concerns Committee, the Sesquimillenium Committee, and the Government Committee, and participated in the Monastery's work to assist Vietnamese refugee families in adapting to Chicago life. She also managed the sewing room following the recomendations of Vatican II, helping sisters to adapt their wardrobes and adjust to changes in monastic life. Finally, Sister volunteered with UNICEF as a bookkeeper and director, and served as a judge in municipal elections.

Sister Mary Martin Gehl, OSB died on March 15th, 2010 at the age of 94. She is buried in All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.