Sister Maria Gerard Jesep, OSBM

Sister Maria Gerard Jesep, OSBM, died Saturday, February 8, 2025.  She was 88.

Born Maria Jesep in Trostianec, Ukraine, she was a daughter of the late Jurij and Maria (Kurlak) Jesep.  She and her family traveled from Bremerhaven, Germany aboard the USS General Sturgis bound for Boston, Massachusetts; their final destination was Lackawanna, New York.  

Maria was a graduate School # 12 in Troy, NY and Watervliet High School.  She entered the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great on January 9, 1958 and took her first vows on July 19, 1960 with her Solemn Profession of her Final Vows on August 25, 1963.  Sister Maria Gerard took some classes at Manor Junior College and continued her education at Fordham University where she earned her BA in Elementary Education in 1969.  She later earned her MA in Elementary Education at Fordham in 1976.

Her ministries were extensive as both teacher and principal at many parish schools: St. John the Baptist in Northampton, PA from 1960 to 1962; St. George Elementary in New York NY from 1962 to 1977; SS Peter & Paul in Jersey City, NJ from 1977 to 1978; St. Josaphat in Parma, OH from 1978 to 1981 and then again from 1990 to 1997; and St. Nicholas in Chicago, IL where she served from 1981 to 1990 and again from 1997 to 2019.  Sister Maria retired in 2019 and spent her last years at the Sisters of St. Basil Motherhouse.  

Sister Maria is survived by her brother Dmytro Jesep (the late Gloria) and her sister Cathy Murray Whitcomb (William); she is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  She is predeceased by her sister Anna Zerebynsky (the late John).  

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Wednesday at 6 PM at Holy Trinity Chapel; Parastas Prayers will be sung at 6:30 PM.  Her funeral will be held on Thursday at Holy Trinity Chapel at 10 AM with Requiem Liturgy celebrated at 11 AM.  Burial will follow at St. Basil's Convent Cemetery.

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