Sister Gerda Buesseler
(Mary Gerardis)
Born to earthly life: November 28, 1916
Religious profession: August 5, 1936
Entered eternal life: February 23, 2008
Sister Gerda Buesseler didn’t have an identity crisis, but readers of her life might have one. Baptized Miranda, named Gerardis at reception, changed to Gerda instead of Miranda when able to change to baptismal names because her sister Gerda had been named Miranda at reception. So Miranda became Gerda because Gerda had become Miranda.
The rest of Sister Gerda’s life is easier to follow except that her mother’s name was also Gerda! Having immigrated from Norway at age 18, her mother had married John Xavier Buesseler. Miranda was born on November 28, 1916, two years after her sister, Gerda, and was joined three years later by her brother John.
The three attended St. James School in Madison, Wisconsin, just a block from their home. There they learned to love and respect their teachers, the School Sisters of Notre Dame so much that after eighth grade graduation, Miranda followed her sister and entered the Juniorate in the Milwaukee Motherhouse.
During the summer of 1931, when both Miranda and Gerda were home from the Juniorate for summer vacation, their father died suddenly. Although their mother knew she would face many hardships, she insisted they continue their calling. By 1936, Miranda was professed as Sister Gerardis, and began 51 years of teaching elementary grade pupils.
Sister taught all grades except sixth in Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin, also serving as principal at two schools. She loved children with a warmth and bubbly enthusiasm that delighted them. Her creativity thrived with new ideas, challenging her students, the gifted as well as those struggling.
She loved to put on programs, songfests, and art fairs and willingly shared ideas and materials with other teachers. Community members recall the hilarious classroom stories with which she entertained them. Besides being an avid reader, Sister was also an accomplished poet.
Gerda’s favorite mission was St. Malachy, Horicon, Wisconsin, with Sister Mary Daniel as her companion. For 16 years, although plagued by ill health, her devotion and warmth inspired both students and parents. During the summer the two sisters prepared school work, gardened and canned, and joyfully welcomed visiting sisters.
After Gerda retired to Elm Grove in 1968, she often expressed her gratitude for the presence of her sister, Sister Miranda, who had followed her in retirement, and who faithfully spent each day with her when she was confined to her room with oxygen. Grateful for her care, Gerda called Elm Grove, “a home where goodness abounds.” On February 23, 2008, after living a life given for others, Gerda went to that home where total Goodness welcomed her.
– Sister Marie LeClerc Laux
Sister Gerda’s positions were:
- Sts. Peter and Paul, Crown Point, IN – 1936-1943 (Teacher, grades 1, 2 and 3)
- Holy Rosary, Darlington, WI – 1943-1946 (Teacher, grades 1 and 2)
- St. Michael, Milwaukee, WI – 1946-1949 (Teacher, grades 1, 2 and 5)
- St. Philip, Reed City, MI – 1949-1950 (Teacher, grades 3, 4 and 5))
- Notre Dame, Chippewa Falls, WI – 1950-1956 (Teacher, grades 7 and 8)
- Notre Dame, Chippewa Falls, WI – 1956-1959 (Teacher, grade 1)
- St. James, Madison, WI – 1959-1965 (Superior, Principal, Teacher, grade 8)
- Sacred Hearts, Sun Prairie, WI – 1965-1966 (Teacher, grades 7 and 8)
- St. Aloysius, West Allis, WI – 1966-1968 (Teacher, grade 7)
- St. Paul, Bloomer, WI – 1968-1969 (Principal and part-time teacher)
- St. Malachy, Horicon, WI – 1969-1985 (Teacher, grades 1 and 2; grades 4 and 5)
- Holy Spirit, Milwaukee, WI – 1985-1987 (Teacher, Grade 5)
- Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, WI – 1987 to present (Retired)
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