NC - Winter 2021

In Memoriam
Sister Peter Marie Genuardi
February 20, 1947 –
November 7, 2021
Sister Peter Marie’s life revolved
around four main loves: her God, her
family, her community, and her friends.
Born on February 20, 1947, in
Norristown, PA, to Peter and Ann
Marino Genuardi, Immaculata was
the oldest girl of the six children in
the family, which included brothers
Joe and Peter and sisters Toni, Anna
Marie, and Bernie, with Bernie having
the undisputed “pride of place” in
the family. Immaculata was baptized
on March 16, 1947, at the Church
of the Holy Savior in Norristown
and then attended that parish
elementary school from grades one
to six. Seventh and eighth grades
found Immaculata at Visitation BVM
School in Trooper, PA, where she had
her first encounter with the Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She
said, “The Sisters were so human, and
loved one another so much, and they
loved to laugh.”
After graduating from Bishop
Kenrick High School in Norristown,
Immaculata worked for a year in a
medical facility in Conshohocken, PA.
On September 8, 1966, she became a
postulant of Immaculate Conception
Province in Philadelphia, PA; she
pronounced her First Vows on August
12, 1969, in Meadowbrook, PA, and
Perpetual Vows on October 12, 1974,
in her home parish of Visitation BVM.
Upon graduating from Holy Family
College – now University – she
primarily taught second grade. It
was her singular joy to prepare
these children for the Sacraments
of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Her
ministry took her to various parishes,
including: Queen of Peace in Ardsley,
PA; St. Kunegunda in McAdoo, PA;
St. Katherine of Siena in Philadelphia,
PA; St. Gregory in Plantation, FL;
Visitation BVM in Trooper, PA; and
St. Adalbert in Philadelphia, PA; where
she concluded her active teaching
ministry with their kindergarten. She
then volunteered as a “Lunch Mother”
at St. Christopher’s Parish School in
Somerton, PA. Sister admitted that
she did less monitoring of the lunches
but became the quintessential go-to
person for the tying of tiny shoelaces.
Coordinating and calling BINGO at
Mount Nazareth was her special gift.
Retired from teaching but continuing
to minister within Mary of Nazareth
Convent, she coordinated the visits of
various maintenance personnel who
came to service equipment in the
convent and to inspect the elevator,
the heating and air conditioning
systems, and the like. She loved to
engage the workers in conversations
about themselves, their families and
world situations. She was truly a
daughter of Nazareth – interested
in the ordinariness of life.
Her lifelong friendships taught her
about a love that deepened and
expanded with each passing year.
Rooted in God and in her friends,
she was able to love others without
judgement, forgive quickly, exude
kindness, and rise above the pettiness
that comes into each of our lives
at times.
Sister was called home to the Lord on
Sunday, November 7, 2021.
Donations in memory of a deceased sister may be mailed to
Development Office, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 310
N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016. Please include a note with
the name of the Sister in whose memory you are giving. Donations
may also be made online at nazarethcsfn.org/support-us/donate.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2021
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