Obituary of Sister Jean Gilhuly

Sister Jean Gilhuly was born Mary Jane Gilhuly to May and Aloysius Gilhuly. A native San Franciscan, she attended Saint Monica's Elementary School and Saint Rose Academy. In 1949 she entered the Dominican Convent of San Rafael where she pursued her bachelor's degree at Dominican College. Sister Jean began her career as a first grade teacher in San Leandro. Her teaching journey took her back to San Rafael, on to Stockton, and then to Benicia. In early 1967, she joined the business office at Santa Catalina School, took the position of treasurer, and committed her future, the next 47 years, to the school. Long an overseer of maintenance, housekeeping, and transportation staffs, Sister Jean also kept a watchful eye on the needs of local families. She was known to "think big" and, characteristically, recognized a need in the community that Santa Catalina could fill. Always a lover of children and an advocate of early childhood education, Sister Jean espoused the philosophy that "the beginning is everything." She set about preparing the first recruitment brochure, gathered boys and girls to the campus, and, in 1971, with Sister Carlotta, staffed and opened Santa Catalina's co-educational preschool-kindergarten. Indeed, "the beginning" was well under way, and Sister Jean remains much loved by the children and families of those early years and beyond. Laughter followed Sister Jean everywhere. She was a Giants fan, a lover of dogs, and an instigator of fun who relished a good practical joke. Her personality was playful and very Irish. An arbiter of good taste, she celebrated any occasion with bright, happy colors and was a ready assistant to anyone in need of a beautifully wrapped gift and a perfect card. Never one to miss an anniversary or a birthday, she was known affectionately within her family as Aunt Cake, that special aunt with an eye to her young East Coast relatives and a knack for securing the very latest toys. To the very end, Sister Jean was possessed of a keen mind and a startling memory for names, dates, and multiple, complex family trees. A keen judge of character, most often proven right in this regard, her pillars of judgment were common sense, honesty and integrity, and to her friends she was unfailingly loyal. Sister Jean's was a lifetime of generosity, kindness, quick wit, and contagious laughter. At a recent gathering of family and friends, years of anecdotes spilled over in loving, grateful memories of time shared together. She will be sadly missed by Sister Claire and Sister Christine, her family, and over 4 decades of children, parents, and friends of Santa Catalina School. Sister Jean was predeceased by her sister, Jean Heagney. She is survived by her niece Diane Brittell; nephews, John Jr, Robert, and Matthew Heagney; grand niece Kathleen Heagney; grand nephews Trevor and Sean Brittell, John III and Michael Heagney, and Walker, Addison, Emmet, and Quinn Heagney; great-grand niece Cara Brittell and great-grand nephew Finn Heagney. We wish to thank the staffs at CHOMP, Westland House, and Ave Maria Convalescent Hospital for their excellent care. We thank Sister Jean's many friends who visited her during these last three weeks, and we are most grateful to our dear friend Dr. Hisashi Kajikuri who cared for Sister Jean and her needs throughout her final days. Sister Jean's life will be celebrated in a Vigil Service on Friday evening, November 21 at 5:00 pm and a Mass of the Resurrection on Saturday, November 22 at 11:00 am. Both celebrations will be held at Rosary Chapel, Santa Catalina School, 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, California 93940. Arrangements have been made through Mission Mortuary in Monterey. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider a donation to Santa Catalina School in Sister Jean's memory.