In Memory of Sister Victoria Gereau
March 16, 1917 – April 27, 2010
Sister Mary Victoria Gereau, PBVM, 91, daughter of Frank and Anna (Kisting) Gereau, was born on March 16, 1917, in Edgeley, ND. She entered the Sisters of the Presentation in June 1935, and professed her perpetual vows on June 9, 1941.
She received her BA degree from Loras College, Dubuque, IA and her MA from Creighton University, Omaha, NE. She did additional studies at Catholic University, Washington, DC; Drake University, Des Moines, IA; and ISU, Ames, IA.
Her entire religious life centered on the field of education, teaching elementary grades and high school foreign languages. Her career, spanning 39 years, took her to Mason City, Storm Lake, Dubuque (St. Columbkille 1954-1959, Wahlert High 1959-1967, and St. Joseph the Worker 1987-1988), Charles City, and Fort Dodge, all in Iowa. She retired to Mt. Loretto Motherhouse in 1988 where she actively pursued her hobbies of crocheting, playing guitar and violin, and silk-screening greeting cards which she did for over 40 years. Following her older sister, Sister Mary Virginia, and confident of her own vocation, Sister Victoria stated, “I was pretty sure since second grade that I was going to be a sister someday.”
Surviving are her sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth (Hugh) Kress, Mrs. Virginia (Eldon) Biver, her niece, Sister Beth Kress, PBVM, many other nieces and nephews, and the Sisters of the Presentation with whom she shared her life for 75 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Sister Mary Virginia Gereau, PBVM, her brothers, Frank and Roy Gereau, and a brother-in-law, Hugh J. Kress.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of the Presentation, 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, IA 52001 or online at www.dubuquepresentations.org.