Upon your walls, Jerusalem, I have stationed watchmen. Never by day or by night shall they be silent.
This is the people set apart to sing the praises of the God,
These are the ones who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 

Our Sister Gertrude Ballew (Helen Elizabeth) died unexpectedly on October 25th, 2009, after a long and fruitful life as a Cistercian in Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey.  She was born in Phoenix, Arizona January 5, 1924, the second of three sisters.  The family later moved to Salem, MA, where she went to school through High School, then graduated from Salem Hospital School of Nursing and then to Boston College where she earned her BS. Her next step was into the US Army Nursing Corps, during WWII, serving in the United States and reaching discharge with the rank of Second Lieutenant. After the war she taught nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  

She entered our monastery on October 11, 1950, just a year after its foundation.  It must have been an enormous change, though her Army training and discipline would seem helpful for the life as it was lived at that time!  She went through the various stages of monastic formation, and reached the landmark of her Simple Final Vows on April 6, 1956.  At that time we were not allowed to take Solemn Vows, but the day came for that too, and she was among the 18 Sisters to take Solemn Vows on June 28th, 1957.

Over the years Sr. Gertrude held a number of important positions in the monastery: Infirmarian twice, Novice Director twice, teacher of Monastic History, and member of the Abbess’ Council. On the international level she served a term on the Order’s Law Commission and within the USA Region she served on the Cistercian Publications Editorial Board for a number of years. In her more recent days she helped out in the Infirmary and kept the community well supplied with homemade yogurt and vitamin supplements.  She also worked in the Art Department, keeping us supplied with community cards to sign when the occasion called for a remembrance for a community friend. Although she had a strong, no nonsense character, she had a good sense of humor, and could lighten otherwise trying moments for those she worked with by her “one liners”.  She was a good friend to many in the community, supportive and wise.  And she was an utterly dedicated soul, faithful and true.

Please join us in our prayers for this gallant woman.