Sr.
Constance
Mary
Gibbons
Sister Constance Mary Gibbons, formerly Sr. Ann Karen, went home to God peacefully on Sunday, January 16, 2022. She was 89 years of age and had ministered in the vineyard of the Lord for 65 years.
She was born in Bridgeport, PA to Edward J. Gibbons, DDS and Kathryn G. Kane Gibbons. Sister’s family moved to Philadelphia, PA., where she attended Catholic Schools, eventually graduating from John Hallahan Catholic High School for girls.
From early on Sister had a strong desire for religious life and her dream was realized when she entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1955. She spent the rest of her life serving in two ministries, first teaching and then nursing. Sister Constance Mary received her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from St. Bonaventure University in 1967 and the years following were spent teaching at St. Margaret’s in Mattydale, and Our Lady of Angels in Albany, NY. Her teaching ministry also took her to schools in New Jersey – St. Joseph’s Camden, St. Francis, Hoboken and St. Peter’s, Riverside. Sister’s knowledge of the Spanish language and culture proved very beneficial when she was assigned to Corazon de Maria in Puerto Rico and Oswego Catholic High School in Oswego.
Sister Constance Mary also felt a strong calling to the field of health and volunteered as a nurse-aide before beginning her full time schooling at St. Joseph School of Nursing. She received her RN in 1976 and began her work in the Maternity and Geriatrics Departments. Then, she served for 30 years as the Director of the Central Sterile Department. She was also able to translate for Spanish patients and see relief in their eyes as someone could relate their feelings to a doctor.
In 2014, Sister moved to the Franciscan Villa where she was a prayer minister.
“Connie”, as she was affectionately known, will long be remembered for her love of God and community, her generosity, compassion, quick wit, ready smile and great sense of humor. She loved having a good meal, and also conversing and sharing all the latest community news with her sisters. Anyone who knew her delighted in the joy on her Irish face and those beautiful smiling eyes.
Sister was predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Edward Gibbons and Thomas (Tim) Gibbons; her sister, Mary Margaret Rider; and a cousin, Jerrold Kane. She is survived by the Sisters of St. Francis; her sister, Kathleen M. Belko; sister-in-law, Terry Gibbons; and several nieces and nephews.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Franciscan Villa Chapel, 6900 Buckley Road, Syracuse, NY 13212. Burial will follow in Assumption Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Congregational Development Office, 225 Greenfield Pkwy., Suite 208, Liverpool, NY 13088.