Sr. Mary Brendan Gibbons, OP

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Brendan Gibbons died April 9, 2019, at St. Johns Hospital, Springfield, IL. She was born in Gridley, IL, in 1934, and named Mary Bernadette by her parents, Ralph and Camilla (Cleary) Gibbons. She made her profession of vows in 1954 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, IL. Sister M. Brendan dedicated her life to teaching childrenvariously, grades 1-6in the Illinois dioceses of Joliet, Springfield, Peoria, and Rockford; in the archdiocese of Chicago, and in San Diego, CA. In 2016, she retired to Sacred Heart Convent from St. Peter School, Aurora, where she taught and provided support services for 13 years. She also enjoyed long years of service at Holy Cross, Mendota; St. John, Carrollton; and St. Lawrence OToole, Matteson. For the past three years, she was a tenacious assistant in the congregational archives, where she relished organizing records and unearthing minute historical facts. Sister M. Brendan was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Rita Maloney and Sally (Bob) Sengpiel; and her brother, John. She is survived by her sisters, Julie (Don) Martinez, Chicago; Jane (Skip) Smith, Westfield, IN, Helen (Peter) Brandon, Olympia Fields, IL, and Rose (Tom) Crosby, Marion, IL; her brother, Jim (Bonnie), St. George, UT; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. Visitors are welcome. Visitation: 4:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at the Aquinas Center, Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield. The visitation will begin with a prayer service. Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, with Father Peter Witchousky, OP, celebrant. Morning Prayer, Remembering, and Final Commendation: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704. The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister M. Brendan are being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th Street, Springfield.