Sister Mary Beata Gerrity, R.S.M., a Sister of Mercy for 53 years, died in Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, L.I., Oct. 27. She was 70.
Born in Brooklyn, Sister Beata attended St. Teresa of Avila School, Prospect Heights, and then Catherine McAuley H.S., Flatbush, before entering the Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 7, 1959.
She earned her bachelor’s degree at Nazareth College, Rochester, and her master’s degree in music at Marywood College, Scranton, Pa.
She taught elementary school at St. Patrick’s, Kent Ave., Fort Greene, 1962-63; St. Therese of Lisieux, Flatbush, 1963-68; St. Mary’s, Roslyn, 1968-69; and St. Agatha, Sunset Park, 1969-81.
She taught music at St. John’s Prep H.S., Astoria, 1981-91. She was also the beloved liturgist/organist at Blessed Trinity parish in Breezy Point until illness forced her hospitalization in 1991. A skilled musician and performer, she also recorded several musical albums and CDs which drew local acclaim.
She is survived by her sister, Eileen Feeney, and brother, Brian Gerrity.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on All Saints Day at the Sisters of Mercy Convent, Whitestone, NY. Interment was in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, L.I.
I had Sister Mary Beata in the second grade back in 1966, at Little Flower School on Ave. D in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Sister was tough, but she was a great teacher and she will be missed.
Rest in peace Sister.
Steve Puleo
I graduated from St. Agatha’s Grade School, 8th grade in 1973. Sister Beata was our Music Teacher and headed the Glee Club and Folk Group there. This woman/Nun was simply amazing. As far as I am concerned, she made the school. She was St. Agatha’s. She loved music and she loved us. Every year she headed all of our amazing concerts…Christmas, St. Patty’s Day and various others. Every Christmas she was like the “Pied Piper” and led all of us kids around the neighborhood Christmas Carolling. This woman had more get up and go than I have ever seen. Do you know what kind of energy it would take to get a whole neighborhood of kids and adults organized and moving like this? Incredible. In addition, I personally have never known anyone so gifted and talented as she as far as the music world. She did it all. She had an amazing voice!!! She played several instruments!!! She was a Conductor with such precision!!! She could have been world renouned in any one of these areas! She could read and write music…and taught it to all of us!!! Unlike these “modern musician’s” that can’t read music? She really knew her stuff!!! I tracked her down a few years ago to tell her how I felt and what an influence she had on my life…I left a message with one of her Nun friends, and I couldn’t get over that she called me back from her “cell phone”!!! A Nun with a “cell phone”! A little bit later after that phone call, my younger sister Charlene passed away, and Sister Beata called me to share her condolences. Charlene was in her Folk Group for years and she wanted to let me know that they all loved her and that she was having a mass for Charlene at St. Agatha’s. All these years later, like 40 years later, it was like we never left St. Agatha’s or the neighborhood! (I have lived in Los Angeles for 35 years). She took me right back to Brooklyn, N.Y. and gave me that same sense of belonging as I knew back then!!! We reminded each other of how great those days were… memories that would last a lifetime for all of us!!! What an amazing person and what an amazing time!!! I am so honored, as so many of us are, to have had this woman/Nun in our lives!!! She was our very own “Singing Nun” and life-long friend!!!
Sr. Beata not only taught us music but brought it into our lives in school (whether we wanted it or not!) I remember caroling from house to house in Sunset Park (St. Agatha’s), the concerts in Kelly Hall and we even ‘cut’ a vinyl record back in the 70s with the Glee Club. She will be missed for her teaching, enthusiasm, guidance and spirit. RIP Sr. Beata, you will be missed.
Sis. Beata was an amazing teacher. She was my music teacher at St John’s Prep. She taught me to sing and appreciate music. I will miss her and never forget her.
RIP. She was my teacher at St John’s Prep.I think of her whenever I hear an Irving Berlin song. That’s actually what made me Google her name today. She took her job seriously and loved what she did. I appreciate everything she taught me.
Anyone who has ever had Sister Beata as a chorus teacher was truly blessed. She had a beautiful voice. She taught with great passion and took her job very seriously. I had detention many times for chewing gum. Yes, the Irving Berlin exposure was a wonderful gift to all of us. It was amazing how she got us to all harmonize. She taught me how to use my voice and sparked my love of singing and music. I hear her deep speaking voice and hear her angelic soprano singing voice. She had an impeccable octave range. May she sing forever with God’s choir of Angels. She will forever be in our hearts and voices.
I remember a few years ago I met Sister at a reunion in St. Agatha’s. She spotted me and came over and hugged me and said, so good to see you Stephen. I was so surprised that she recognized me at 56 years old. I remember her and her glee club singing Christmas Carols in front of my house on Christmas Eve. She was very special and I’m sure she touched many lives. You see Sister, you really did have a wonderful life. God bless you.
I was privileged to know Sister through her music. I just learned of her passing – she will be missed.
I was saddened to learn of the passing of this great soul. I had the privilege of meeting Sister Mary Beata Gerrity, at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY, in I believe 2009. The occasion was the Great Irish Weekend, which my wife, and I attended there, and in which she was one of the performers. She had an amazing, distinctive singing voice, to me, similar to Ruthie Morrissey. As we were about to leave on Sunday, to return home, we were all sitting around, and Sister and I decided to start singing some great Irish songs. It was a heartwarming experience, which we both enjoyed. She was a down to earth human being, and I am sure will be missed by so many people. But, am sure she is performing those great hits in Heaven, where God is the better for it. May God Grant her Eternal Rest in Heaven.
I was wondering if Sister Mary Beata was living in the area. I just read that she passed away. Sister Mary Beata was passionate , loyal and gave me a lot of tough love . Sister Mary Beata taught me the meaning of the arts . Music was one and mini broadway plays as I would remember . I was very blessed to have earned some very important roles in her Christmas plays. Lots of hours of script reading , singing lessons and acting . I didn’t realize how blessed I was to be in her presence. Our glee club recorded a record during that time in the 70’s . Rest In Peace ! God bless !
I got the chance to visit Sister Mary Beata when we attended mass at Blessed Trinity, Breezy Point back in 1999, she was the liturgist/organist. I didn’t have to look I knew her beautiful voice. I was her student at Little Flower she made me feel special, She would make sure that i had a shamrock boutonniere for St Patrick’s day. Sister Mary Beata looked out after me which helped me embrace my faith. I love you Sr Mary Beata.
Sister Beata definitely left her mark on me. Had her 2x in Little flower school in mid 60’s. She was tough and taught me many things but the thing that has stayed with me since then besides discipline is Penmanship. People have always complemented me on my cursive and I remember the many many exercises that I had to do over the weekends for my well lets say corrective behavior.. 🙂 Thank you sister for molding me. R.I.P.
Heard her sing at a 911 Funeral Mass and her voice was very comforting at such a tragic time to honor the FDNY and NYPD. I miss hearing her sing sometimes on Catholic radio programs. Rest in please.