Mother Mary Gertude Doyle, R.S.M. (1862-1913)

By the death of Mother M. Gertrude Doyle, which occurred Saturday, March 22, 1913, the Pittsburgh community of the Sisters of Mercy sustained a heavy loss. She was known in the world as Anna Mary Doyle and was the second of eight children born to John and Elizabeth Spahr Doyle. The sterling qualities of the father and the gentle characteristics of the mother were combined in the daughter. She was educated with the Sisters of Mercy and later studied art in the schools of the city. Gifted in mind and body, the center of a happy home, at eighteen life looked fair indeed to Anna Mary Doyle. But the young heart had conceived a loftier ideal than a career of mere earthly happiness and in its pursuits she became a religious. Unusually devoted to parents and home, she realized the import of the words, “He who loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me.” Miss Doyle entered the community of the Sisters of Mercy on March 25, 1880. She was professed in September, 1882. In the early years of her religious life she taught in the parochial schools of her community’s supervision. She possessed a keen business acumen together with rare executive ability. Her superiors recognized this and as a young religious she was placed in charge of the House of Mercy recently opened by her community. Of her work there God and the inmates alone fully knew. For a while she was the guiding spirit of St. Joseph’s Protectory for Boys. When that work was given up by the community, she was made Superior of St. Mary’s Convent, Forty-sixth  street, this city. She remained there several years. After that she was placed in charge of the orphanage conducted by her community. St. Paul’s Asylum was at that time situated on Tannehill  Street. The care of the orphans was her best beloved work. The great mother heart found here its truest scope. During her time at the asylum the orphans were removed from Pittsburgh to Idlewood. It is with no disparagement to the reverend incumbent that we say the new building arose partly under her supervision. The keen practicality and rare common sense of this noble woman showed themselves in suggestion for the comfortable housing of Christ’s little ones and the furnishing of the new home. All her interests centered in the orphans. At the time of her removal from the home the inmates numbered a thousand. Every child was known to her by face as well as by name. To be an orphan was a passport to her favor, to blame one of them to incur her displeasure. Their betterment was her supreme endeavor. Mother Gertrude was elected Mother Superior of her community in May, 1909, and reelected in May 1912. To keep up the primitive spirit of the institute, to hold its traditions, to live its holy rule— these were the constant theme of her instructions, the object of her earnest prayer. Latterly her health failed. Two years ago a severe illness brought her to the gates of death, but she rallied and took up the burden again; but when a second attack came she succumbed and her death occurred on Saturday in Holy Week. Much could be said of her generous spirit, the great mother-heart, and above all of the childlike simplicity of her character, but ostentation was alien to Mother Gertrude and display distasteful to her. The miserable whom she comforted, the fallen whom she tried to uplift, the needy to whom she gave with needful generosity—these could best record her deeds. For the most part they are hidden in the heart of God. Mother Gertrude began her religious life on March 25, 1880, and just thirty-three years later, on the very day, her sorrowing sisters followed her remains to the little cemetery of St. Xavier’s, Beatty. Was the number of years typical? Did He who so loved the needy and the poor count the measure of her life perfect? Let us hope. She is survived by three brothers, Messrs. John and Leonard Doyle of this city, and Mr. Clarence Doyle of Paris, France; and by three sisters, Mrs. John Kearns, Mrs. J. Stadalman of this city, and Mrs. H. Breen of Chicago. Pray for her precious soul that her rest may be with the saints.

Memoirs of the Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy, Compiled from Various Sources, 1843-1917 (New York: The Devin-Adair Company, 1918), 418-420.