Sister of St. Joseph, Deanna Gears (formerly Sister Louis), died on Nov. 4, 2010, at the age of 73.
Sister Gears entered the congregation in 1955 from her home parish, St. Margaret Mary in Irondequoit. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1962 from Nazareth College in Pittsford and a master’s degree in religious education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1976.
She taught in several diocesan schools including St. Monica, Holy Apostles, Holy Rosary and Corpus Christi, Rochester; and St. Rose, Lima. In 1977, she served as principal at St. Mary, Canandaigua, and then at St. Casimir, Elmira. From 1986-94, she was chaplain at Holy Family Schools in Elmira.
In 1994 she became religious-education coordinator at St. Paul Church, Webster, and remained there for seven years. She then served as pastoral associate at St Bridget/St Joseph, East Bloomfield, until 2008 when her failing health prevented her from further ministry.
Sister Gears is survived by her brother, Gerry (Mary Jean) Gears; her brother-in-law, Donald Kusak; her aunt, Marge Sickels; six nieces and nephews; her good friend, Sue Storke; and by her sisters in the congregation.
Her funeral liturgy was celebrated in the motherhouse chapel in Pittsford on Nov. 8, 2010, with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministry Fund, 150 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618.
