Sister Marietta Geray, age 93, died peacefully on November 28, 2024 at St. Benedict’s Care Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Sister Marietta Geray was born on September 11, 1931, in Beaulieu, the second of the eleven children of Joseph Frederick Geray and Mary Margaret (Kaster) Geray. At her baptism, her parents named her Hyacinth Rosa Geray.
She began her education at Ahmann School, the country school near her home. For high school, she attended Mount Saint Benedict Academy.
In 1950, she entered Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, and on January 8, 1951, she received the Benedictine habit and the name Sister Marietta. She made her final monastic profession on July 11, 1955.
Sister Marietta received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Theresa in Winona and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH.
Sister Marietta served as an elementary school teacher in Cathedral School, Crookston; Assumption School, Barnesville; St. Philip’s School, Bemidji; and Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes, MN. She then worked with high school students as a German teacher and a prefect at Mount Saint Benedict Academy, and as a German and religion teacher and assistant principal at Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks.
Following this part of her teaching ministry, Sister Marietta enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. She taught ethics to students at the university and served as an administrative assistant in the religion department. After leaving the university, Sister Marietta lectured in ethics at the University of Minnesota Crookston, the Moorhead Technical College and the University of Mary (Fargo Center).
In 2011 Sister Marietta moved to Benedict Village in Saint Cloud, where she resided until her last illness.
Beginning in 2011, Sister Marietta moved to Benedict Village (Independent Living) in Saint Cloud, MN. While as a resident of Benedict Village, Sister Marietta established a handbell/chime choir which remains active to this day. She regularly assisted with the liturgy there. When consulted, she facilitated spiritual growth for the Benedict Village community members. Avid computer user and researcher up until the end. She gathered information and participated in online discussion groups outside of her residence.
Sister Marietta was very devoted to the care of her sister, Vivian, while Vivian was a resident of St Cloud. She cherished her deep connections with her sister, Marie, and many of her nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, by sisters Rita Olson, Magdalen Symonds, Aria Ronayne, Viviana Beuning and Geraldine Lukas. She is survived by siblings Marie (Gerald) Plante, Veronica Placek, Sandra (Alquin) Tschida, Joseph Geray, Jr.. Reinald Geray, many nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Mount Saint Benedict Monastery.
Funeral services in St. Cloud: date, time and location pending.
Memorial Service and Interment at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery: Spring 2025 date pending.
Arrangements by Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud, Minnesota.
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