Catherine Mary Gross was born in El Centro, California on September 28, 1919 to Ottilia and Dominick Gross. Her parents were immigrants from Switzerland. Her father worked mostly in real estate. He was known throughout the county as the man who knew every farm in the area. If someone wanted to buy a farm or rent a place, they would come to consult him. He knew what kind of crops would grow best in each place.

Catherine was named after her grandmothers, both of whom carried that name. She was the second of three children, having an older sister, Hilda, and Carl, a brother two years younger.

Catherine attended grade school and high school in El Centro, after graduation in 1937 enrolled in a business college in Sacramento. She had an aunt who lived in the city and suggested Catherine enroll there. Before she finished her course work she was offered a job with the State of California. She completed her business classes through night school. It took two years to receive her diploma and graduate.

Often the college received requests from local businesses looking for temporary office help. Catherine frequently took these job opportunities as a way to apply her studies and get work experience. One of her first jobs was with the Tytirses’ Association, registering nurses for the state. She also spent some time working for the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Agriculture. Catherine was always looking for better positions and better pay in order to get her own apartment. When World War II began Catherine went to work at the Army base at Mather Field, 20 miles from Sacramento.

Catherine was the secretary of a Major in charge of transportation, working mostly with the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads. This led her to employment with the Southern Pacific, where she met Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Coyle, a Catholic couple. Mr. Coyle also worked at the Southern Pacific. His wife was a close friend of the Sacramento Carmelite Nuns, a community Catherine visited regularly.

During a novena with the Carmelites, Catherine met Fr. O’Hara, a Paulist priest who told her about Clyde and the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Drawn to Eucharistic Adoration and the life of prayer Catherine visited Clyde with Mrs. Coyle. Catherine entered Clyde as a postulant on August 30, 1947. Her first work was in the sewing room, where she learned quickly this new work. As a novice and young sister she worked in kitchen. Sr. Mary Hildelita was her novice director.

Upon making her first monastic profession May 29, 1949, Catherine received the name Sr. Mary Gertrude. In 1950 she was assigned to the correspondence department to learn the crediting work. After her final monastic profession on July 12, 1954, Sr. Gertrude was appointed bookkeeper for the Clyde monastery. In 1962 she was made Treasurer General of the Congregation. In 1966 she moved to St. Louis when the Generalate and Novitiate were transferred there. The General Chapter of 1968 elected her to the General Council for a term of six years. After her term ended she returned to Clyde, to work in the correspondence department again as a creditor. After that she was, again, bookkeeper for the Clyde monastery until 1984 when she returned to the correspondence department.

For over forty years Sr. Gertrude handled the property insurance for all our monasteries. This required her to travel to each of our monasteries. Sister also served as Notary Public for the community. She was the community shopper and provider of necessities for some years at Clyde. She was also the coordinator for the Marriage Encounter groups that came to Clyde nearly every month. She was a gracious hostess and helped serve meals and guided many of the tour groups that came to the monastery.

Sr. Gertrude delightfully shared stories of how she met both Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable before she entered the monastery. During her years in the monastery, her kind and welcoming presence nurtured many friendships both personal and professional.

On May 29, 1999 Sister Gertrude and her profession companion, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Krone, celebrated their Golden Jubilee of profession at the Clyde monastery. Fr. Patrick Caveglia, from Conception Abbey was the presider. Sister Gertrude’s guests included her sister, Hilda, a niece and nephew. Sr. Gertrude celebrated her 60th Jubilee celebration in 2009 with the monastic community.

Sr. Gertrude suffered from severe hearing loss the last years of her life. She also battled cancer for years. During her last year Sister’s health failed quite rapidly. 

On Sunday morning, Feb 20th, 2011, the sisters and staff noted a change in Sr. Gertrude’s breathing. She was surrounded by the sisters who came to pray with her until death came for her a little after 2:00 o’clock that afternoon. The funeral for Sr. Gertrude was on Thursday Feb. 24. Father Patrick from the Abbey presided.