Gertrude Marie Kelley, daughter of Charles Lyons and Gertrude Marley Kelley, was born February 8, 1915, in Mattapan, Massachusetts. She had two brothers and two sisters.

On September 8, 1933, she entered St. Catharine Novitiate, taking the name of Sister Geneva. She was professed on April 30, 1935.

A gifted musician, Sister Geneva received both her B.M. and M.M. in Piano/Theory from the American Conservatory in Chicago.

From 1937 to 1970, Sister Geneva taught piano at St. Bartholomew and Our Lady of Peace, Chicago, IL; Mattoon, IL; Greeley, NE; St. Catharine Academy; Rosary Academy and St. Francis deSales, Watertown, MA.

In 1970, Sister Geneva embarked on a new career as receptionist at the Jesuit Provincial Office in Boston. Later she was secretary to the Executive Assistant to the Provincial of the Jesuits in New England. During this time she was made an honorary member of the Society of Jesus in New England.

Some of her correspondence in the 70’s indicates that she was thinking of getting into ministry of the dying, and in preparation for this work she completed a CPE program. In 1977 she became a chaplain at Youville Hospital. An article in the Boston Pilot on Sisters in Pastoral Ministry quoted Sister Geneva as saying she "listens to how life was and is and helps the patients cope with their difficult situations."

Sister Geneva was a "woman ahead of her time." She was a member of the Women’s Ordination conference. She protested the nuclear arsenal of the U.S. in many ways, most notably by demonstrating every week at Draper Labs in Cambridge. She was a member of the Nicaraguan Action Group and participated in a sit-in in Tip O’Neill’s office over this issue. She was once arrested for protesting.

Sister Geneva was a quiet, loving person who put her compassion into action. She was devoted to her family, her community, and all God’s people in need.

May she now enjoy the fruits of her labor!