Sister Maria Magdala O'Boyle, IHM
Sister Maria Magdala O’Boyle, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
She was born on July 21, 1905 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Rose Katharine. She was the daughter of the late Edward Francis and Catherine Malloy O’Boyle. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 16, 1922, made her temporary profession of vows on December 29, 1924, and her final profession of vows on December 8, 1930.
Sister Maria Magdala was a teacher in Catholic schools for more than sixty years and served in the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Olyphant, PA, from 1924 to 1926; Immaculate Conception Elementary School in West Pittston, PA, from 1926 to 1929; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1929 to 1934; St. Alphonsus Elementary School in New York, NY, from 1934 to 1942; St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1942 to 1946; Mother of Mercy Elementary School in Washington, NC, from 1946 to 1948; St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1948 to 1952; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1952 to 1953; St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1953 to 1961 and from 1970 to 1975; St. Mary Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1961 to 1962; Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1962 to 1963; Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in Inwood, NY, from 1963 to 1969; St. James Elementary School in Smithtown, NY, from 1975 to 1978; and at St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD, from 1975 to 1988.
From 1988 until the time of her death, Sister Maria Magdalaserved as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence, both in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Marywood College.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Patrick, and two sisters, Delphine May and Sister Mary Hubert, IHM.
She is survived by two nieces, Rosemary Gutierrez of Roanoke, VA, and Mary Patricia O’Boyle Boughner of Highland Park, IL.
The funeral will be Monday, November 1, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Interment will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Sunday, October 31, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Spring 2011 issue
Visitors to the third floor of Our Lady of Peace Residence often were surprised to see a wheelchair propelled by a petite sister dressed in pink. The surprise was even greater if they came to realize that the sister was one hundred five years old—one hundred five years, eighty-five of them spent as an IHM sister. Unfortunately there are few still living to tell the story of those years. But we do have the story of a beautiful friendship formed by a truly God given experience.
Sister Ellen Smith came as a new resident to OLP. When Sister entered her room she was surprised to find Sister Maria Magdala sitting there, quite at home. After that the two became close friends. Although diminished in sight and hearing Sister Maria remained alert and thoughtful to the end. She knew what she wanted and found ways to tell us. She also made sure that we knew that the habit of giving and sharing was still important to her.
We, the sisters who came to know Maria Magdala at Our Lady of Peace, are most grateful for having shared those golden years.
by Dorothy Lancor, IHM
