Geraldine F. "Sister Gerry" Keirnan

Geraldine F. ‘Sister Gerry’ Keirnan, 78 passed away August 16, 2015. She was born in Hartford, Conn. to Thomas F. Ryan and Thelma R. Ryan. She was raised in Kansas City and attended Hogan High School. After graduation in 1954, she joined the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth professed vows and became Sister Mary Sarto. She taught in Wyoming, Montana, Chicago and Kansas City. In 1970, she left the order because of illness and taught in Council Bluffs, IA. In 1976, she married the love of her life, Joseph Keirnan and they moved to Hawaii. They had a wonderful life together living on the North Shore of Oahu for 10 years until Joe’s death in 1986. She continued teaching at St. Michael’s in Waialua, Hawaii and Trinity Lutheran School in Wahiawa, Hawaii. She was a wonderful teacher and loved teaching the eighth grade. She later joined the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii. She became Sister Gerry, serving the community and friends, teaching, preaching and serving others. She is fondly remembered by her many, many students. Few have lived such a rich life. In a thousand ways she taught her students and friends about faith, family and building community wherever you go.

She was preceded in death by her dear husband Joseph Keirnan; her parents, Thomas and Thelma Ryan, sister Eleanor Lynch, brother Thomas Ryan, nephew Edward Lynch, and step-granddaughter Christy Keirnan.

Sister Gerry was much loved by her family, including her brother John Ryan (Donna) of Independence, MO, step-son Joseph ’JF’ Keirnan (Carol) and step-grandson Brian Keirnan (Kristen) of Jacksonville, FL.; nieces and nephews Mary B. Bunker (Jack), Kathy Cochran (Kevin), Eileen Rhoades (Jay), Margie Shifman (Sergio), Sean Ryan (Gloria), Sarah Shackelford (Chris), Kathy Bayliff (Mike), John J. Ryan (Amy) and Rosemary Brennan (Ryan), and many great nteces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be Friday, August 21, 2015 at 11:00 am and St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 Lees Summit Rd, KCMO. Visitation will be 10:00 am until 11:00 am Friday at the church. There will be a Mass and celebration at St. Michael’s Parish in Waialua, Hawaii at a later date. Her ashes will be taken to the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii. The family requests contributions to the Christy Fund (for Childhood Cancer), 4720 Salisbury Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256; Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii, P.O. Box 490, Waialua, Hawaii 96791 or Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048. Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.mcgilleymidtownchapel.com. Arr. McGilley Midtown Chapel, 816-753-6200.