took the time to come to Omaha to visit us. I’m so indebted to her because, for many years, she took
care of my little dog Cami when I would be gone. She also took care of another dog, Benji.
That poem “For Others” just fits her perfectly because she was always thinking about others. I don’t
know how many times we went over there for a meal or to pull something together. We enjoyed it. I
remember her having the garden too. I learned a lot about gardening from her. I am really happy
that I can be here. You know, I think she wanted to be a Sister of Mercy. That’s what she told me,
but I think she was glad that she did become a BVM. We’re so much alike any way, aren’t we?
Sister Sue Rink, BVM
Much has been said about Gen’s love of creation. And it has been said about how much she loved
flowers and working in the soil and getting her hands into the earth, into the clay. But nobody has
mentioned that she loved getting her hands into worms and other kinds of bait so she could go
fishing. I had some good experiences with Gen and Janel at The Spiders. She particularly loved The
Spiders for two reasons. The first reason was so that she could go fishing and enjoy nature. The
second reason was that The Spiders was not too far from a nearby casino. I had the opportunity to
be with Janel and Gen at both places. I was also very inspired by the loving devotion that Gen and
Janel had for one another.
Sister Mary Angela Buser, BVM
In February 2013, my sister, Sister Danetta, received a beautiful basket full of all kinds of greens
from the family of one of my nieces for her 90th birthday. Danetta tried to take good care of it, but
despite all her effort it seemed to get to look more like her, sicker and sicker and sicker. When she
went to Marian Hall, I asked Gen if she could try her magic green thumb on the plant to save it.
After Danetta’s death, she said, “Well, it was too far gone. Danetta overwatered it so it was soaked.
Would you like some other plant in there so you can remember her?” So she put other green things
including one that was green but turned red. I said, “What is that, Gen?” She said, “Oh, it’s just a
weed. It grows like a weed.” I think she knew my ability to take care of plants. I thank Gen for the
basket of greens and reds that still sits on my window sill to remind me of Danetta and Gen. Thank
you, Gen.
Sister Kathyrn Lawlor, BVM
I lived and taught together with Gen at St. Patrick in Cedar Rapids. I know you have all admired her
ability to work the soil, but when I lived with her, she was into coin collecting. Every night at
recreation, she would bring in all the milk money that students had given her and she would look
carefully at the date on every coin. There was no need for us to chat with Gen at recreation because
she paid no attention to us. We teased her a lot about just looking at coins and she said, “Someday
you’re going to be really thrilled when I find a really valuable coin.” I don’t know if she ever found
that in the milk money or not, but actually she did bring in money bit by bit from the coins she
collected that were indeed quite valuable.
Sister Judith Sheahan, BVM
I’ve known Gen for long time because we lived in Des Moines at the same time. One day Gen said
to me, “You know, Clemenza is really worried about the Pine Walk.” Sister Clemenza Finney was a
good friend to both of us. I said, “Oh really?” She said, “Yes, so many of those big pines have gone
down since we were at Mount Carmel as postulants and novices. Clemenza is just regretting that so
much.” A few weeks after Clemenza died, Gen said to me, “I’ve had the best idea. I found a little
pine tree way back in the forest. I’m having the men dig it up and I’m going to plant it again along