Sister Genevieve Sutara, OSF

November 23, 1914 - May 20, 1992

Sister Genevieve Sutara, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, died on May 20, 1992, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Formerly known as Sister Pauline, she was 77 in her 61st year of religious life.

Genevieve was born to Frank and Mary (Tabacar) Sutara on November 23, 1914. She entered the community in 1930 and received the name Sister Pauline, professing first vows in 1931 and final vows in 1937.

Over the course of six decades, Sister Genevieve served our community as a cook, laundress, gardener and seamstress. She cared for our Sisters and students at convents and schools in the Pennsylvania towns of Erie, Pittsburgh, Northampton, Bethlehem, Canonsburg and Barnesboro, as well as in Clarksburg, W.Va. In the early 1960s, she also taught kindergarten and maintained her domestic duties in Boonton, Gutenberg and Jersey City, N.J.

“I will always remember Sister Genevieve for her devotion to the Lord particularly in the Eucharist, and for her dedication to the work in the kitchen, doing the seemingly little tasks,” recalls one of our Sisters.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Sister Genevieve helped to take wonderful care of the students and retreatants at St. Francis Retreat House, Mount Assisi Academy and St. Peter’s Child Development Center, all in Pittsburgh.

“She took great care in preparing meals for the little ones and delighted in making creative and attractive birthday and holiday treats for them,” one Sister remembers.

Sister found great joy in gardening and beautifying the earth, spending countless hours in garden on the Mount Assisi Motherhouse grounds. As another Sister wrote, “I will never forget her love of God’s creation and the way she tended the vegetable and flower gardens to make others happy and to adorn the Chapel with flowers.”

Known for her smile, Sister lived out faithfully the commitment she had made to the Lord. She spent her days doing whatever she could with all the energy she had. May she rest in peace.

Sister Genevieve is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.