Sr. Genevra Baer, RSM.

Sister Genevra Baer (Helen Baer), a Pittsburgh Sister of Mercy for 70 years, died at the Mercy Hall Infirmary of the Convent of Mercy on July 4, 2022. Born in McKeesport, PA, she was 87 years old. Daughter of Stanley and Helen (Schwerha) Baer, Sister Genevra entered the Sisters of Mercy from St. Pius Parish, McKeesport, in 1952 and made final vows in 1957.

She earned a BS Ed from Mt. Mercy College (Carlow University) and taught for 15 years at area schools including St. Elizabeth’s Pleasant Hills, St. Colman’s, Turtle Creek, St. Pius V, McKeesport and St. Xavier’s, Latrobe before entering the nursing profession. Sister Genevra became an LPN at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, a registered nurse at Broward Community College in Florida, and did further study at the Cleveland Clinic. She worked at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh before moving to Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 1971 where she served in various nursing positions for 27 years. She was considered an expert on wound care and was one of the first certified enterostomal therapists in that area. She also served as the coordinator of the convent at Holy Cross and hospital coordinator for community and volunteer services. She returned to the Convent of Mercy in 2014.

In the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Genevra was active in lobbying and community involvement for the rights of poor persons. A colleague remembers that Sister Genevra was at her best when organizing and running the annual Craft Fair at Holy Cross, an event to raise money for persons in need. And she made instant connections with patients, in particular ostomy patients fearful of never having a normal life again. “Just to see someone take care of themselves is worth it,” Genevra remarked. “I feel I’m doing the work of the Lord; it’s a loving commitment I’ve made to God.”

Sister Genevra was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Stanley Baer, Charles Morningstar, and Robert Baer, and sisters, Jean Kiss and Julia Horst. A private funeral liturgy will be followed by interment in St. Xavier Cemetery, Latrobe. Arrangements entrusted to the EDWARD P. KANAI FUNERAL HOME, 500 Greenfield Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 3333 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213 or the Carlow University Scholarship Fund.

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