Sister M. Gertrude Mastilak
February 10, 1914 - January 11, 2008
Sister Gertrude (Anna) was born in McKees Rocks, Pa., to Andrew and Mary (Nadzam) Mastilak. In July 1919, when Anna was only 5, she and her mother left for Czechoslovakia. There she attended public school and later helped her mother to care for their farm. In 1929, they returned to McKees Rocks and, for the next few years she did housekeeping for a family in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Her family later moved to Jersey City, N.J., and joined the parish of St. Joseph in Bayonne. To help earn money for her family, Sister Gertrude found work as a housekeeper.
It was through the pastor of Sacred Heart Church that Anna was introduced to our sisters. Hearing God’s call to enter the religious life, she left her home in Jersey City, N.J., at age 19 and went to Pittsburgh, where she entered our community at Mount Assisi Convent in Bellevue. She was received into the community in August 1934, given the name of Sister Gertrude, and made first vows in August 1935.
Sister Gertrude was very skilled in sewing and other domestic tasks. From 1935 until she professed final wows in August 1941, she assisted the sisters with laundry, sewing and cooking at various convents. After spending some months working at the Retreat House in Pittsburgh, she spent the next 11 years doing domestic duties at convents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. From 1954 to 1955, Sister Gertrude was missioned to Carmichaels, Pa., where, in addition to her domestic duties, she began teaching catechetical classes to the children. She then assigned to the Retreat House in Pittsburgh as the main cook.
In 1957, the Pittsburgh Province was divided into two provinces, and Monocacy Manor became the motherhouse for the newly-formed Bethlehem Province. That year, Sister Gertrude was sent to teach kindergarten at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Jersey City, N.J., and continued her domestic work for the sisters, now as a member of the Bethlehem Province. She spent three years ministering in New Jersey then, from 1964 to 1970, Sister Gertrude took care of the laundry and sewed for the sisters in Monocacy, while traveling to SS. Cyril & Methodius School each day to teach kindergarten
From 1971 to 1980, Sister Gertrude taught kindergarten and helping with domestic work in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. She then returned to Monocacy Manor and helped at the Retreat Center by preparing the meals for retreatants. From 1990 to 1993, she was the main chef for the St. Francis Day Care Center at Monocacy Manor.
In 1994, Sister Gertrude’s health began to fail, and she redirected her energies to making crafts to be sold in the convent religious store. In 2004, with failing eyesight, Sister’s main ministry became one of prayer.
Sister Gertrude will be remembered for her sensitivity to the sufferings of the other sisters. Her interest in what others were doing made conversation with her easy and personal, and she was willing to listen to any sister who came to her seeking advice. Sister Gertrude shared, in her quiet way, what she herself learned from her own life experiences. In her later years, even when her eyesight was failing, she kept in touch with so many sisters by sending them feastday and birthday cards and assuring them of her prayers.
The legacy of Sister Gertrude can be found in the beautiful stitchery she left behind, especially the many outfits for the Infant Jesus of Prague that she made over the years. Her love and devotion to the Child Jesus was seen through the perfection of her delicate work. Nothing was too great of a task for her to undertake, such as the drapes that she made for the reception room at Monocacy Manor. They will be hanging there for many years to come, as a testimony to her skill as a seamstress.
Sister Gertrude is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa.