Sister Mary Bryan ND 5018 PDF Download
Margaret Anne GABEL
Immaculate Conception Province, USA
Date and Place of Birth: June 2, 1938 Fremont, Ohio
Date and Place of Profession: August 11, 1959 Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Death: April 23, 2026 Chardon, Ohio
Date and Place of Funeral: April 30, 2026 Whitehouse, Ohio
“She who is a friend is always a friend.” (Proverbs 17:19)
Margaret, “Peggy,” born to Ambrose and Henrietta Gabel as the second of three daughters in Fremont, Ohio, was raised in a very Catholic and happy household. Since her father had no boys to enjoy sports with, he taught his girls to play baseball, basketball, tennis, swimming, diving and hunting. They were also a musical family, so they enjoyed singing at home and in the church choir and playing instruments. Peggy had a hard time learning how to read music, but she could sit at the piano and play from memory. She enjoyed entertaining herself and others through her ukulele, banjo, accordion, harmonica, and piano playing.
Margaret attended St. Joseph elementary and high school in Fremont where the Sisters of Notre Dame ministered. After graduation her discernment for her future was between being a nurse or being a Sister. On September 8, 1956, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in Toledo, Ohio.
With her degrees from Mary Manse College and Bowling Green University, she spent over 50 years in elementary education. She ministered in schools of Ohio and Florida as teacher and/or principal. She was a teacher for intermediate and middle grades students for 17 years and was principal for 19 years. When she retired from full-time teaching, she became a part-time teacher for special needs students for 17 years at Mary Immaculate School on the Provincial Center Toledo property from 1992-2009.
Sister also provided many services for the Sisters while living at the Provincial Center. She took much pride in overseeing the car fleet and providing transportation for 18 years. With her joyful sense of humor Sister Mary Bryan would entertain the Sisters by donning costumes and singing and dancing. She also played the part of Rupert during the St. Nicholas celebration each year.
In April of 2021 Sister took up residence at ND Village in Chardon, Ohio to receive the care she needed as she suffered from dementia. She enjoyed her new home close to her relatives in the Cleveland area who could visit her more easily. No matter where she lived or how she ministered, Sister Bryan considered everyone her friend and welcomed them into her life.
On April 23, the nursing staff came to check on Sister during the morning routine and found that Sister had passed into her eternal rest. Sister would have enjoyed the beauty of the moment alone with her God and her welcoming family members as she embraced her friend in Jesus. May she rest in peace.
