Sr. Genna Hibser, OSB – teacher, liturgist, musician and great friend – died Wednesday morning after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Sister Genna (Mary Michael) was 82 years old.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the St. Mary Monastery Chapel.  Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7:00 p.m.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, Ill., is assisting with arrangements.

Georgianna Hibser was born on February 12, 1928 in David, Ill., a daughter of Frank and Johanna Shragal Hibser.  She attended St. Boniface School, Peoria, Ill., and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa and a Masters in Religious Education from St. Meinrad, St. Meinrad, Ind.

Georgianna entered the Benedictine community on September 8, 1946.  She made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on July 12, 1948.  Her ministry included serving as an elementary teacher, music instructor and/or principal at St. Anthony’s, Atkinson, Ill.; St. John’s, Clinton, Ill.; St. Mary’s, Moline, Ill.; St. Thomas More, Munster, Ind.; St. Roch’s, LaSalle, Ill.; St. Joseph’s, Ivesdale, Ill.; Immaculate Conception, Monmouth, Ill.; and St. Boniface and Holy Family, Peoria.  Sister Genna did Pastoral Care and Liturgy at Mary’s, Moline and St. Maria Goretti in Coal Valley, Ill. and Evangelization at St. Joseph’s, Pekin, Ill. and Munster, Ind.  She was also a student recruiter for St. Mary’s Academy.

She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; and nine sisters.
Online condolences may be left at http://www.wheelanpressly.com.