Sr. Mary Gehring, OCD, passed into eternal life on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at the Dawn Hill Home (formerly St. Elizabeth’s Manor) in Bristol, RI. Sr. Mary was born on March 23, 1932, in Baltimore, Md. She was the daughter of John William Gehring, Sr. and Dorothea (O’Brien) Gehring. Baptized Elizabeth Ann Gehring, she was know as Phoebe to her family. As a Carmelite, she was Sr. Mary of the Incarnation.

Sister graduated from Mount St. Agnes High School in 1949. She graduated from Union Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as an RN in 1952.

Sr. Mary entered the Carmelite community on November 15, 1952, and she made her first holy profession on May 24, 1954. Her perpetual profession was on May 24, 1957.

Sr. Mary was instrumental in establishing the Association of Contemplative Sisters (ACS) in 1969, and she was ACS President. 

At Carmel she served in roles as Prioress, Councillor, and Advisor to Secular Order for 17 years. Sr. Mary offered many people spiritual direction, taught formation classes, and she served on the Diocesan Sisters’ Senate. 

Sr. Mary is survived by several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Dorothea Yursik, John William (Bill) Gehring, Jr., and James D. Gehring.

A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Luke’s Church in Barrington on Thursday, May 20 with burial in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Providence.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to the Carmelite Sisters, 370 Hemenway St., Apt. 416, Marlborough, MA 07152-6602 or to the Alzheimer’s Association of RI, 245 Waterman Avenue, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02911-1043, which will be greatly appreciated.