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Genevieve Pearl Hanek was born on May 28, 1946, at 7:10 PM at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was the third child of Stephanie and Julius Hanek, and the cherished younger sister to Julia and Stan (affectionately known as Buddy). She was baptized on June 9 at Assumption BVM Parish in Chicago.
Genevieve knew early on that she wanted to be a religious sister. One of her earliest memories of feeling this call came in first grade, when Sister Sophilla led her class on a field trip to the convent in Des Plaines. It was there that she felt the conviction that she was called to be a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth. By seventh and eighth grade, she was already assisting Sister Gertrude with correcting papers for the first graders.
Following her eighth grade graduation, Genevieve entered the convent as an aspirant under the care of Sisters Inviolata and Naomi. Her parents were happy with their daughter’s decision. After two years, she became a postulant and Sister Hilary was her Director. In 1963, she entered the novitiate, and in 1965 she professed first vows. Sister Mary Kevin professed her final vows in 1970, adding to her name the mystery - the Heart of Love.
Sister Kevin’s ministry spanned decades and many places, all documented by her own hand. She worked 1 year at St. Ann in the dining room, 5 years at St. Josaphat working as the main cook, 3 years assisting in the dining room of the Provincialate, at Nazarethville after completing two summers of dietary courses in St. Louis, at Holy Family Medical Center starting in 1986 in dietary and later on as a clerk, at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital starting in 1987 as a Support Clerk in Medical Records as well as the dining room, and at the Holy Family Convent starting in 1989 as the Appointed Director of Food Service. Sister Mary Kevin retired in January of 2025.
Sister Kevin spent almost her entire life caring for the dietary needs of the people around her. We all know Kevin as the “Sister the in kitchen," but her fidelity to her vocation extended far beyond the meals she prepared. Though she often began her faith-sharing by humbly saying, “I’m not as educated as the rest of you,” or “I’m just a cook,” those who knew her understood the depth of her quiet wisdom and spiritual strength. She taught all of us what it means to serve out of love, for the good of the whole.
On April 30, 2025, Sister Mary Kevin of the Heart of Love, CSFN, a faithful and beloved member of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, was called home to God. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
