Sister of Mercy Mary Georgeann Mattingly, former director of the Cerebral Palsy School of Louisville and the Mattingly Center, Inc., died April 30 at St. Catherine Convent in Louisville. She had been a Sister of Mercy for 66 years.

Sister Mattingly, a native of Louisville, ministered to people with cerebral palsy for 32 years. She began this work as principal of the Cerebral Palsy School in 1965, and after it closed in 1993, she helped to establish and became executive director of the Mattingly Center, 1520 Baxter Ave.

The school stopped serving children and teens in 1993 when public schools were charged with serving children with disabilities up to age 21. At that time, the former Cerebral Palsy School expanded its services to adults over age 21 and was established as the Mattingly Center for Continuing Education in Sister Mattingly’s honor.

Barbara Henchey, who succeeded Sister Mattingly as executive director of the Mattingly Center, credits Sister Mattingly with the agency’s success.

“The wonderful programs that she developed for people with disabilities was the seed that made this place what it is today,” said Henchey. “She was a wonderful and gentle lady who walked the walk, assisting people with all kinds of needs and made their lives better because of that.”

Before serving at the Cerebral Palsy School, Sister Mattingly was principal of St. Paul School and founding principal of Our Lady of Consolation School. In the Archdiocese of Louisville, she taught at Holy Cross High School and Mt. Mercy in Pewee Valley, Ky. She also taught in Columbus, Ohio, and Paducah, Ky.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, including Gabrielle Gray and Mary Sullivan; her friend, Elizabeth Robertson; and her community of Sisters of Mercy. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 5 at St. Raphael Church. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.