Sister Gertrude Peña, O.P.

Sr. Gertrude Peña, O.P. (Ovelia) entered eternal life on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Sr. Gertrude was born in the Moral Community in Nacogdoches County, TX, on July 23, 1927, to the late Frank and Jane Cordova Peña. She was the last surviving of ten children and was predeceased by her siblings Mary Conception Peña Prado, Joseph Stephen Peña, Cecilia Peña Felts, Luis Henry Peña, Selma Peña Oxsheer, Monica Frances Peña Paluck, Johnnie Leonard Peña, Ann Theresa Peña Tickle, and Filberto Jerome Peña. She is survived by several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Following graduation from Nacogdoches High School in 1946, Sr. Gertrude entered the Dominican Sisters of Houston, the same congregation that her cousins, Sisters Emerita and Celestine Peña entered. She earned a B.A. in elementary education at Dominican College, Houston; completed studies in drawing, painting, and elementary art education at San Diego College for Women in California; studied Intensive Spanish and Hispanic Ministry at the Mexican American Cultural Center, San Antonio, TX; and completed the Ministry to Ministers Program at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, TX.

Sr. Gertrude began her service in religious life as Director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart Parish, Austin, TX. She then ministered in education at Sacred Heart School, Galveston, TX; St. Austin School, Austin, TX; St. Mary School, Whittier, CA; Holy Rosary School, San Bernardino, CA; St. Joseph School, Port Arthur, TX; St. Peter the Apostle School, Houston; Northwest Junior High School, Houston; St. Rose of Lima School, Houston; O’Connell High School, Galveston; St. Patrick School, Lufkin, TX; Dominican Elementary School, Galveston; Our Lady of Lourdes School, Hitchcock, TX; and St. Anne School, Houston.

She served as Director of Religious Education with involvement in Family Care at St. John the Baptist Parish, Alvin, TX. She also served as an Extended Day Assistant at St. Catherine Montessori School, Houston, Volunteer Coordinator at Holy Family Birth Center in Weslaco, TX, and Hispanic Ministry Assistant for Olympic Peninsula Pastors in Poulsbo, WA. Sr. Gertrude’s congregational service included her ministry as a receptionist at the Villa and as Sacristan assistant.

Sr. Gertrude had a creative imagination and many artistic gifts. She received recognition from Ben Taub Hospital and Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital for knitting and crocheting caps for newborn babies. She created banners of liturgical art by commission. She was also commissioned to create a monument dedicated to the Dominican Sisters of Moral in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery at Moral, Nacogdoches County. Teaching art was Sr. Gertrude’s passion. She took great pride in sharing her talents with the very young. She wrote: “I had the time of my life teaching art to little children, teaching them to appreciate themselves and what they could do with those tiny little fingers.” She leaves behind a legacy of love and service. Beneath her quiet demeanor lay a woman of deep faith, grace, and quiet eloquence. The Houston Dominicans would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and the staff of St. Placidus Convent for their loving care and support of Sr. Gertrude during her final years.

Sister’s body will be welcomed at 4 p.m. and the vigil service will be at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024 at St. Dominic Villa Chapel, 6504 Almeda Rd. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. St. Dominic Villa Chapel. Burial is at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery at 1 p.m. In lieu of the usual remembrances, donations may be made to Dominican Sisters of Houston, 6501 Almeda Road, Houston, TX, 77021.

To watch the livestream for the Vigil at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, click the following link. https://youtube.com/live/DJohkX82AxE?feature=share

To watch the live stream for the Mass of Christian Burial, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 15, follow this link. https://youtube.com/live/uUKDjUNAp6U?feature=share