PORTLAND – Sister Mary Gerald McLellan, R.S.M., a.k.a. Verna Lillian McLellan, 84, died unexpectedly Oct. 31, 2004. Sister Mary Gerald was born Dec. 19, 1919, in Brewer, the daughter of Bradford and Annie Bushey McLellan. She was educated in Bangor, attending St. John’s School and John Bapst High School. Sister Mary Gerald entered the Sisters of Mercy after graduation from high school in 1937. She continued her education with a B.S. degree in education from St. Joseph’s College and received a M.Ed. from the University of Maine. Sister Mary Gerald devoted her life to her religious vocation and her ministry of education. Sister was an avid teacher who loved her students and made her classes entertaining as well as interesting. Her gift for teaching as well as principal was shared with many parishes in Maine. Sister Mary Gerald began her teaching ministry in 1939. Since 1972, Sister was on the faculty of Catherine McAuley High School, teaching and chairing the Math Department. She taught in a variety of parochial schools: Cathedral Elementary and Jr. High School, Portland, St. Dominic’s School, Portland, St. Athanasius School, Rumford, St. Joseph’s Academy, Portland, St. Mary’s School, Westbrook, Sacred Heart, Portland, St. John’s School, Bangor, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fairfield. In addition to education, Sister Mary Gerald served on the Board of Trustees at Mercy Hospital for six years. Sister Mary Gerald was recognized at Catherine McAuley High School’s 30th anniversary, with an award for her dedication and service in the field of education. As a Mercy educator, Sister Mary Gerald was an inspiration to students and staff alike as was evident when the school yearbook was dedicated to her. Her sense of humor as well as her helpfulness endeared her to all. Sister Mary Gerald’s fidelity to her religious life as a Sister of Mercy and her life long commitment to education ministry will long live in the hearts of all who knew her. Sister Mary Gerald is survived by her brother, Joseph and her sister-in-law, Margaret McLellan of Loma Linda, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Gloria McLellan of Bangor; several generations of nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community. Visiting hours will be 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Convent, 605 Stevens Ave., Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at the convent with burial to follow at New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Sister’s name may be made to Catherine McAuley High School, care of Advancement Office, 631 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME, 04103.