On October 27, 2021, Sister Gale Bednarek, our resident Scripture scholar, left us for the fullness of God’s light and love. Sister Gale was baptized Lucille Michaeline, the name given by her parents Victoria and Lucian Bednarek, at St. Joseph’s Church in Chicago Heights, IL. She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on July 6, 1961 and pronounced her final vows in 1967. Sister Gale lived our Franciscan mission by serving as a teacher, a director of religious education, a faith formation minister, and a receptionist.Sister was a true woman of gratitude and her positive attitude was apparent in her writing about her days as a postulant in the Aspirature, “There I had the wonderful opportunity of learning how to live with other people, and of getting to realize the necessity of a good education. My family plays a very important part in my life. I shall always be indebted to my parents not only for material things, but also for all the help and encouragement they have given me.”
Sister Gale loved her Community and sincerely lived her life as a Franciscan in simplicity and faith. She knew God’s Word and loved God’s Word and lived God’s Word. Her greatest delight was in helping others discover their faith. When you engaged in conversation with Sister Gale, her beautiful blue eyes were intently focused on you as she listened — it was obvious that she cared deeply and was interested in what you had to say. She knew and trusted in the transformative process and evoked it in others. Her generous, affirming, joyful spirit was experienced by all who knew her. No word of hers was ever wasted on triviality. She would be surprised to know that her wisdom and spirit were like the grain of wheat that produced a rich harvest in many lives.
Memorial gifts in honor of Sister Gale may be made at www.fsolph.org to help the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help continue to provide for the health care needs of the Sisters. Call (314) 965-3700, ext 109, with questions or to share a story of how Sister Gale helped to influence your life. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on November 2, 2021 at 5pm in the Lally Room at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services. Due to COVID, the Mass will be private. Her final resting place will be in the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help section of Resurrection Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.