A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Georgia Brezler, D.C., was celebrated Jan. 23, 2016, at the DePaul House Chapel in Albany, N.Y. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, N.Y. Sister Georgia died Jan. 19, 2016, at St. Louise Residence in Albany. She was 79 years of age and 58 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Waynesboro, Penn., Aug. 29, 1936, Sister Georgia was one of five children born to Charles Robert and Teresa Elizabeth (Murphy) Brezler. Sister graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1954 and entered the Daughters of Charity in April 1957.
Sister Georgia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in French in 1961 from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Md. She earned her Master of Science degree in French from Rivier University in Nashua, N.H., in 1967, and Sister earned her Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., in 1993.
Following initial formation, Sister Georgia taught at Immaculate Conception Academy in Washington, D.C. (1958 to 1961); Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, Md. (1961 to 1967); Utica Catholic Academy in Utica, N.Y. (1967 to 1969); and Cathedral Academy in Syracuse, N.Y., where she also served as the Local Community Superior (1969 to 1971). From there, Sister Georgia began her service in the foreign missions. She served in Coyocao, Mexico (1971 to 1972); Colon, Panama (1972 to 1973); and Venezuela (1973 to 1983). Sister Georgia was next missioned to St. Mark’s in Harlem, N.Y., where she also served as Local Community Superior (1983 to 1984); Bayside, N.Y. (1984 to 1987); East Brunswick, N.J. (1987 to 1988); and Brooklyn, N.Y. (1988 to 2012). During her years in Brooklyn, Sister Georgia specialized in immigration law and advocated for those living in poverty and those without voice. In February 2012, Sister Georgia joined the Ministry of Prayer at St. Louise House in Albany; she served there until the time of her death.
Sister Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and one brother. She is survived by two sisters, Louise West and Margaret Helfrick (Bill) both of Waynesboro; many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews; her Sisters in Community; and many friends.