Sr. Norma Gettelfinger

Sr. Norma Gettelfinger (formerly Sr. Mary Gregory), 88, died peacefully at Our Lady of Grace Monastery on August 7, 2026, after a brief illness. Sr. Norma was one of twelve children born to Leo and Josephine (Gill) Gettelfinger on September 4, 1937, in Palmyra, Indiana. She entered Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana in 1953 and made her Perpetual Monastic Profession in 1959.

She attended Morgan Township High School and graduated from Academy Immaculate Conception in 1955. She studied at St. Benedict College, IUPUI and Spaulding University earning her BA Degree in Education. Sr. Norma received her Master’s Degree in Education from Indiana University.

Beginning in 1955, Sr. Norma entered the classroom as a Second Grade teacher at Holy Rosary School in Evansville, Indiana. She taught at several schools in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Diocese of Evansville. Those schools were: Assumption, Indianapolis; St. Bartholomew, Columbus; Christ the King, Indianapolis; St. Ambrose, Seymour; St. Columba, Columbus; St. Barnabas, Indianapolis; St. Pius X, Indianapolis; St. Anthony, Clarksville; All Saints, Indianapolis; Holy Name, Beech Grove; All Saints, Columbus and Our Lady of Lourdes, Indianapolis. She also served as Principal at St. Barnabas and St. Columba Schools. After leaving the classroom, Sr. Norma worked in Food Service areas at St. Paul Hermitage and the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center. She retired in 2011.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Jim, Frank, Harold, Donald, Tom and Dennis Gettelfinger, and her sisters Thelma Lewis, Bernardine Gettelfinger, Jean Krejci, Sr. Ann Janette Gettelfinger, OSB, and Carol Chappel; many nieces and nephews and her Religious Community.

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Grace Monastery on Sunday August 16th from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM. A wake service will be held at 7:00 PM in the Monastery Chapel. Her funeral Mass will be at 4:00 PM on Monday, August 17th with visitation from 3:00 PM until the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Retired Sisters’ Fund, c/o Sisters of St. Benedict, 1402 Southern Avenue, Beech Grove, Indiana 46107 or online at www.benedictine.com. Little & Sons Funeral Home, Beech Grove, are entrusted with the arrangements.