Sr. GusicSister Mary Perpetua (Caroline Frances) Gusic died April 1 in Reading, Pennsylvania. She was 98 years old and was a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 78 years.
Born in Steelton, Pennsylvania, the oldest of seven children of Croatian immigrants, she made her first profession in 1941 and her final vows in 1946.
Sister Mary Perpetua studied at the Precious Blood Teacher Training Institute in Columbia, Pennsylvania. She taught middle-grade students for almost 50 years. Her teaching posts included schools in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, New Mexico and Missouri. She taught at St. Joseph School in St. Louis.
After leaving her education ministry, she served for several years as coordinator of the small communities where she lived.
Sister Perpetua lived in retirement at St. Joseph Villa in Reading with the Bernadine Franciscans.
Survivors include her sister, Virginia Zimmermann. A private burial service was to be held in the convent cemetery. A memorial Mass will be scheduled later.