Benedictine Sister Sr. Mary (Mary Gerald) Melady, 79, died April 17 at St. Joseph Court, the infirmary of St. Scholastica Monastery.

Born in Evanston, she St. Ignatius School and St. Scholastica High School before entering the Benedictine community in 1963.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Mundelein College and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago, as well as credentials for teaching English as a Second Language from Northeastern University.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. George, Queen of All Saints, St. Joseph (Orleans Street) and St. Scholastica Academy.

She then studied at and worked at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Hyde Park, eventually becoming its co-director and earning a doctorate in ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation.

She began directing her community’s initial formation program in 1999 and returned to to teaching ESL, first part-time at Oakton Community College, and then full-time at Taft High School. She maintained that ministry after retiring from teaching. She also volunteered in various capacities at Holy Spirit Life Learning Center.

She was appointed subprioress in 2015 and continued in that role until the summer of 2023.

She is survived by her brother, Patrick.