Sr. Geralyn Misura, Fspa

“All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!”

Sister Geralyn Misura, FSPA

Sister Geralyn Misura, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), 88, died Sunday, August 21, 2022, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was in the sixty-seventh year of her religious profession.

Mary Jane was born to Raymond and Stella (Bien) Misura on December 16, 1933 in Eau Claire, Wisc. Her father was a cook by trade, but later worked as a dock loader. Her mother worked as a stenographer. Mary Jane and her sister, Monica, and two brothers, Myllin and Mark, grew up in Eau Claire. She attended Sacred Heart Grade School there, taught by the FSPA. She then attended St. Patrick’s High School, run by the Benedictine sisters. By the time she graduated there it had become Regis High School. In her early years, Mary Jane began knitting and crocheting, a hobby she carried into her adult life.

In 1953, she was received into the FSPA novitiate and given the name, Sister Geralyn. She professed first vows on August 12, 1955.

Sister Geralyn earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Viterbo College (University) with a minor in music. She served as a primary school teacher for eight years in Iowa (Mallard and Dedham) and Wisconsin (St. Joseph Ridge, Eau Galle, Ashland and Edgar). In 1977, her ministry took her to St. Joseph School in Prescott, Wis. as a first grade teacher and musician (choir director and organist). In 1981, Sister Geralyn became principal of the school until Sr. Laverne Wilichowski came as principal and Sister Geralyn returned to teaching first grade. In 2001 Sister Geralyn retired from teaching but remained in the parish as sacristan and organist, roles she continued until she retired to Villa St. Joseph in 2017. From 2010 to 2017, she also served as volunteer organist at Regina Hospital in Hastings, Minn.

Community members, family and friends remember Sister Geralyn as a kind, quiet person, who always loved children and music—and the parishioners at St. Joseph, Prescott. She was a “people person,” warm and giving of her time and helpful to anyone in need. As one of the members of St. Joseph’s said, “We have been blessed to have Sister Geralyn in our parish.”

Sister Geralyn had a great devotion to Capuchin Father Solanus Casey from Prescott, whose cause is up for canonization. She helped found a Father Solanus Prayer Circle and had organized several pilgrimages to Detroit where Venerable Fr. Solanus spent most of his religious life. She was privileged to attend Fr. Solanus’ beatification ceremony in Detroit.

Sister Geralyn is survived by her Franciscan community, her brothers, Myllin (Joan) from Minneapolis and Mark (Carol) from Apache Junction, Ariz. and her sister Monica (Rodney) Crowley, from Bloomington, Minn. and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister-in-law Cynthia.

A wake service will be held at 4 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel on Wednesday, August 24. A virtual sharing will take place at 6:30 p.m. that evening. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 25 at 10 a.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse, following the Mass. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601-8800.