Obituary of Sister M. Gladys (Agnes) Zimmerman, OSF

Sister Gladys (Agnes) Zimmerman went home to God on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at the Franciscan Villa. Sister was born in Lorain, OH to John and Mary Andrews Zimmerman. She was 95 and had been a Sister of St. Francis for  78 years.

Sister received a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY,  a Master’s Degree in Education from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY and a Master’s Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure College in Olean, NY.

Sister ministered in the field of education as a teacher in Utica and Syracuse, NY. She was principal at the Convent School and at St. Joseph, Liverpool. Sister also taught at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, FL, in Lorain, OH and in Hilo, HI. Her next calling was to Parish Ministry in Tampa and Port Charlotte, FL. Following that, for the next 14 years, she was the Resident Manager of Villa San Carlos, a 50 unit HUD Housing for very low income elderly in Port Charlotte, FL. Returning to NY state, Sister served as a Hospitality Minister at Stella Maris Retreat Center in Skaneateles, NY.

Sister will always be remembered for her years of devoted service to her community, her great story telling,  her heartfelt recitation of poetry, her sense of humor, her generosity,  her wonderful rapport with children, her gentle caring ways, assisting Seniors with housing issues and her great love of her family. She had an all-around friendly, out-going personality.

Sister was predeceased by her parents, two brothers, Father Damien (Ralph) Zimmerman, OSF and Thomas (Rosemary) Zimmerman, and her sister Dorothy Zimmerman (William) Flaherty, two brothers-in-law Joseph Wargo and Ernest Ensign.

She is survived by her sisters Alma Zimmerman Ensign and Catherine Zimmerman Wargo, several nieces and nephews and the Sisters of St. Francis.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Franciscan Villa Chapel, 6900 Buckley Road, Syracuse, NY  13212. Calling hours will be from 3:30 to 6:30 pm in the Chapel. A farewell service will be held at 8:30 am on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at the Franciscan Villa Chapel. Interment will follow in Assumption Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Mission Advancement Office,  6900 Buckley Road, Syracuse, NY  13212.