Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Obituaries

Mary Gissler

Sister Mary Antoinette Gissler, P.B.V.M., formerly of St. Mary's Parish in Los Gatos, died May 15 in San Francisco. She was 80.

Born Feb. 16, 1916 in Oakland, Gissler--known by many as "Sister Toni"--devoted much of her life to helping and educating others. She was an elementary and high school teacher for many years in San Francisco, Berkeley and Los Angeles; at the latter she was a high school consultant for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Gissler was a college instructor and Newman Center minister at San Jose State University. She also did community outreach and other work for the San Jose parishes of Santa Teresa and St. Julie's.

From the early 1980s through 1991, Gissler served as community ministry outreach coordinator for St. Mary's, acting as a liaison between people who wanted to make donations or volunteer time and those agencies that could use the extra help. While with St. Mary's, Gissler also was a Eucharistic minister to the sick, visiting individuals at home or in nursing facilities who couldn't make it to Mass.

"She was a very gentle, kind person, but she was definitely strong," recalls Kathy Cusick, current community ministry outreach coordinator for St. Mary's. "She would ask people to do things in a way that they didn't want to say no. You knew she meant business, but you didn't feel bad about it."

Following a 54-year career in education ministry, Gissler retired to the Sisters of the Presentation Convent in San Francisco, where she continued her ministry in the local community. She is survived by her brother William Gissler, and her sister Caroline Gissler and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass has been held, with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. Donations may be made to The Presentation Sisters Ministry and Retirement Fund, 2340 Turk St., San Francisco, 94118.

Anne Hadly

Anne McKell Hadly of Los Gatos died May 1 in her home following a long illness. She was 88.

Hadly was born Aug. 21, 1907 on the island of Jolo in the Philippines, where her father was stationed as an Army officer. She grew up on various Army posts in Panama and the United States. While her father was working out of the Presidio in San Francisco, Hadly attended Lowell High School and UC-- Berkeley.

In 1931, she married William Hadly, a career Army doctor who later became a colonel. The family lived on several posts until the end of World War II, when her husband retired due to health problems. They settled in Los Gatos in 1945, where the children attended local schools.

Hadly was active in St. Mary's Parish, the History Club of Los Gatos and other community activities. She also enjoyed attending antique shows.

Survivors include daughters Frances Hadly Hale of Los Gatos; Helen Anne Greely of San Francisco and Mary Hadly Crowell of S. Yarmouth, Mass.; sons William McKell Hadly of Fremont and David McKell Hadly of Sacramento; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. William predeceased her in 1962.

A vigil and Mass have been held at St. Mary's Church, with interment at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno. Donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Mary's Church, 219 Bean Ave., Los Gatos, 95030.

Warren Purviance

Former Los Gatos resident Warren Dorsey Purviance, who had been residing in Marysville, Calif., died April 30 of cardiac arrest at the University of California-Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. He was 75.

Born Jan. 24, 1921 in Los Gatos, Purviance graduated from Los Gatos High School, served in the U.S. Army during World War II and worked as a salesman for Richardson's Furniture Store for many years. He moved to the Yuba-Sutter area 51 years ago, where he was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Marysville.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years Mary-Margaret Purviance of Marysville; son and daughter-in-law Roderick and Debbie Purviance of Hays, Kan.; grandchildren Tara and Shannon Purviance of Hays; great-grandson Andrew Scott Purviance of Hays; and sister Nila Purviance Crew of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Memorial services have been held, with interment in Sierra View Memorial Park in Marysville. Donations may be made to the California Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Mary Gillis, P.O. Box 143, Yuba City, 95991 or to St. John's Episcopal Church, 8th and D streets, Marysville, 95901.