Sister Hilda (Margaret Mary) Gleason, age 102, died on March 28, 2017 at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She was born on November 27, 1914 in Albany, New York. Sister Hilda was the third of five children born to Patrick and Theresa (Griffin) Gleason. Sister Hilda joined the Daughters of Charity on December 23, 1932 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After a period of initial formation, Sister Hilda was sent on her first mission to Utica, New York where she cared for “50 lively boys” at St. John Home (1933-1936). Following this she served as a teacher in Seton High School, Baltimore, Maryland (1936-1944); Holy Cross Regional School in Lynchburg, Virginia (1944-1947); and St. Ann School in Bridgeport, Connecticut (1947-1952). In 1952, Sister Hilda opened Queen of Peace School in Washington, DC where she served as the Principal (1952-1954). In 1954, Sister Hilda was named Provincial Councillor for the Emmitsburg Province (1954-1962) and also President of St. Joseph College (1954-1961). For the next year, she pursued advanced studies at St. John’s University in New York. Sister Hilda then returned to Lynchburg as Principal (1963-1968). In 1968 she was elected the English-speaking General Councillor. During her term as General Councillor she lived at the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France (1968-1980). While serving on the General Council, Sister Hilda was elected the Assistant to the Superioress General (1974-1980). After completing her service on the General Council, Sister Hilda was asked to set up a new region of the Community in Taiwan and served as their Regional Superior (1980-1989). When Sr. Hilda completed her term as Regional Superior, she assumed secretarial duties and taught English in Taiwan (1989-1998). In 1998 Sister Hilda was missioned to St. Michael Villa in Emmitsburg where she served first as a librarian and then entered into the ministry of prayer until her death.
Sister Hilda received a Bachelor of Science Degree from St. Joseph College in 1945 and a Master’s in Education with a major in Administration and Supervision from Boston University in 1950.
Sister Hilda was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. Her sister, Sister Mary Gleason, also a Daughter of Charity, died in Bolivia in 1999. Sister Hilda is survived by nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service will be held on April 7 at 7:00 pm in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on April 8 at 11:00 a.m. in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Hilda’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME in Emmitsburg, MD.