Sister George Marie Geiger, SSND
October 27, 1926 – October 23, 2021
“With great joy,” Joseph and Helen Fisher Geiger became parents to their fourth child, Christina Adelaide, on October 27, 1926 in Trenton, New Jersey. A convert, Helen Geiger enthusiastically “instilled Christian principles and a love for religion in each of her six children.”
Christina entered grade school at St. Ambrose School in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She received her first Holy Communion in May 1932. Sorrow entered the quiet and uneventful life of nine year-old Christina when her brother and closest companion, George William, died.
At a young age, Christina felt a strong desire to “convert sinners and draw souls to Christ.” Admiration for her teachers, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, encouraged her to apply to the Juniorate. Christina graduated from St. Ambrose School and entered early preparation for religious life, where she was “truly content.”
After a summer of anticipation, Christina’s heart was filled with joy as she received the bonnet of a Notre Dame candidate. On July 16, 1946, she entered the novitiate as Sister George Marie and was professed on July 31, 1947. She taught elementary classes at St. Anselm School, Brooklyn, New York, and St. Mary School, Annapolis, Maryland.
Sister George Marie then became a student at the Johnson School of Nursing at the University of Maryland, where she earned a degree as a licensed practical nurse in 1964. This degree was in addition to her Bachelor of Science degree from St. John University, Queens, New York, in 1956, and a Master of Education in Special Education and Remedial Reading from Loyola College (now University) in Baltimore in 1966.
For many years, Sister was devoted to assisting children with reading difficulties through the Baltimore Archdiocesan Remedial Reading Clinic. As late as 2014, she continued to tutor first- and second-graders in reading at Villa Assumpta.
Sister George Marie also served as a nurse at many Baltimore area nursing homes previous to her work at Maria Health Care Center. Sister retired to prayer and presence at Maria Health Care Center in 2013 and relocated in 2021 to Stella Maris Nursing Center, Lutherville, Maryland, where she died on October 23, 2021.
Sister George Marie was an excellent teacher who made events come alive for her students. Always interested in what others were doing, she was caring and helpful, a good listener and advisor.
It was Sister George Marie’s deepest desire to devote her life to working for the salvation of souls. She wished to become an unselfish religious by keeping the rules and striving to live in closer union with Christ. She wanted to lead “a truly interior life and become truly Christlike.”
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Sister George Marie in the chapel of Villa Assumpta on Friday, Oct. 29. The Mass was celebrated by Rev. Paul Zaborowski, OFM Cap., pastor of Sister’s home parish, St. Ambrose, Park Heights, Baltimore. As a sign of her deep connection to St. Ambrose Parish, the sacramental books containing the records of Sister George Marie’s first Holy Communion and Confirmation were present during the Eucharistic celebration.
Interment followed at Villa Maria Cemetery, Glen Arm Road, Glen Arm, Maryland. Sister George Marie is survived by her sister, Patricia A. McGee, two nieces, two nephews and eight great-nieces and great-nephews.
Jeanne Hildenbrand, SSND
