Posted December 20, 2019

Sister Mary Irene Geisheimer, C.S.F.N. (formerly Sister Amata), died Dec. 8 at Jesus of Nazareth (Mount Nazareth) Convent in Philadelphia. She was 95 and in the 78th year of her religious life.

Born and raised in Norwich, Conn., she attended St. Joseph’s School then traveled to Philadelphia to attend Nazareth Academy High School. She entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in June 1941 and professed her final vows in Rome, Italy in May 1950.

Sister Irene received a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and a master’s degree from Middlebury College. She also completed studies in German at the University of Wisconsin and traveled in 1973 for a sabbatical at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.

She taught at Holy Rosary School in Springfield, Mass., as well as at St. Adalbert School in Philadelphia. She spent most of her 50 years in education teaching German and English at Nazareth Academy High School.

The funeral Mass for Sister Irene was celebrated Dec. 12 at Mount Nazareth Chapel in Philadelphia. Donations in her memory may be made to Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.