Sister Gabriel Manovsky

april 3, 1903 - march 25, 1925

Sister Gabriel was born on April 3, 1903, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Her family moved several times from McKees Rocks to Nanticoke, Pa., and back. This caused the frequent change of schools which she attended until 1917. For the next two years she remained at home, helping to keep the house. On January 5, 1919, she entered our community as a postulant at St. Gabriel Convent. She received the habit on August 12, 1919, and changed her baptismal name, Emma, to Sister Gabriel.

While she was a postulant and novice, she was preparing for the diocesan examination. Having completed her novitiate, she made her first vows on August 16, 1920. During the following years she taught at St. Gabriel School and at St. Clement School in Tarentum, where she remained for four years. During that time, she took piano lessons and continued her teaching preparation by attending Saturday classes at the Motherhouse and, later, at the Knights of Columbus Normal School in Pittsburgh.

This work, however, did not absorb her entire interest. She was greatly devoted to her little ones and, by her childlike simplicity and innocence, seemed to be one of them. She is remembered by her companions in religious life as a very gentle, quiet Sister, whose kind smile spread happy feelings wherever she went. She won the hearts of her pupils by her pleasant manner, and was believing and obedient with the Sisters. She led a quiet, unassuming, but earnest interior life. Her tender love for the Blessed Virgin helped her greatly in that respect.

In 1924, Sister Gabriel’s health weakened. After a restful vacation, she was transferred to Barnesboro to teach second grade, but soon fell ill again. During her illness, she was very patient, smiling and grateful for the least service done to her. In the night of March 25, 1925, she felt very tired, so her superior advised her to try to sleep a little. Obediently she closed her eyes, slept for a while, and, thus, passed away on the Feast of the Annunciation.

Sister Gabriel is buried Ursula is buried in the parish cemetery in Barnesboro, Pa.