OLGC Honors Librarian

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School librarian Mary Ann Overbeck received the Sister Michael Vincent Award for her devotion to Catholic education during a special Catholic Schools Week Mass.

Overbeck, who served as PTA president in 1984, became the school’s librarian in 1985 when Sister Michael Vincent told her the librarian had given notice. Overbeck took the job and 25 years later, she still loves what she does each day.

“I would never have known about or been offered the job, if I had not been there at the right time as PTA President,” she said.

Overbeck received the Sister Michael Vincent Award for her service, love and dedication to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School.

“I feel honored to have my name on a plaque with Sister Michael Vincent, Monsignor McGovern, and all the other fine educators,” Overbeck said.

Overbeck, originally from St. Louis, went to Catholic grade school, Catholic high school and graduated from Fontbonne University, a small Catholic women’s college in St. Louis. She majored in English and education. 

“Catholic education has always been important to me,” she says.

“Mrs. Overbeck has been a special gift to our school as our librarian,” said school Principal Jerome McGowan. “Mrs. Overbeck has directly touched the lives of every child in our school every week for the past 25 years. She has instilled in the children a love for books and a joy in reading. Her library is a warm and welcoming environment that reflects her love and care of her students. We are pleased to honor Mrs. Overbeck with this special recognition.”

Overbeck currently lives in Mount Laurel with Gary, her husband of 41 years. Their three boys attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish School.

Their boys graduated from Holy Cross High School in Delran. Scott graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Bryan from Villanova and Kevin from Notre Dame. Today, two are engineers and one is a physician specializing in geriatrics. All three live with their families in New Jersey. Overbeck is also the proud grandmother of five grandchildren. Two of her five grandchildren attend OLGC.

During a typical week at OLGC, Overbeck visits the kindergarten classrooms at the Early Childhood Center for story time. First- through sixth-grade classes come to the library each week to read stories and novels. Overbeck visits the seventh- and eighth-grade classrooms as part of the language arts program.

“Words cannot describe the amount of time and dedication that Mrs. Overbeck has given to us over the years,” eighth-grader Kimberly Ravold said. “Not only has she opened many doors to the students by helping us to read, but she has put together a very successful Battle of the Books team as well.”

Student Council Vice President Julia Roccato said, “She doesn’t just read a book to us. She teaches us valuable lessons. We learn the meaning of the book.”