Sister Mary Wilfred Cain, IHM
Sister Mary Wilfred Cain, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, February 2, 1962 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on January 19, 1873 in Ridgebury, Pennsylvania, and given the name Mary Ellen. She was the daughter of the late Dennis and Mary O'Connell Cain. She entered the IHM Congregation on November 1, 1901, received the religious habit on April 2, 1902, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1904.
Sister Mary Wilfred served as a housekeeper at St. John the Evangelist Convent in Bellefonte, PA; St. Joseph's Infant Home in Scranton, PA; St. John's Home in Cresson, PA; St. Joseph's Convent in Danville, PA; St. Joseph's Convent in Williamspor, PAt; St. Rosalia's Convent in Pittsburgh, PA; St. Leo's Convent in Ashley, PA; Holy Rosary Convent in Scranton, PA; St. Joseph's Hospital Convent in Carbondale, PA; St. Joseph's Shelter in Scranton, PA; St. John's Convent in Susquehanna, PA; Holy Name of Mary Convent in Montrose, PA; and Epiphany Convent in Sayre, PA. She also had charge of resident boys while serving at St. John's Home in Cresson, PA, from 1915 to 1919.
She is preceded in death by three brothers, Patrick, Thomas and Joseph, and a sister, Mary Ann (Molly) Kane.
She is survived by two sisters, Josephine and Cecilia (Celia), both of Sayre, PA, and nieces and nephews.
Interment is at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
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.
Archival Reflection:
Sister Mary Wilfred observed her eighty-ninth birthday shortly before she died. Throughout these long years she had maintained an active role in community work. She had labored hard and well in the beginnings of the Bellefonte mission, at St. Joseph's Children's and Maternity Hospital, St. John's Home, Cresson, St. Joseph's Shelter, St. Joseph's Hospital, Carbondale, and in several of our mission houses. She was a quiet, reserved, prayerful Sister, little known except to her Sisters and her family. Her family were pioneers in the Ridgebury section of the Scranton Diocese, and were the generous friends of the early priests laboring in north central Pennsylvania. She had personally assisted them both in household and sacristy work before she entered religion. Her life at the Marian Convent was tranquil and serene; but a fall resulted in a broken hip, causing her extreme pain and suffering. The bone was perfectly set, but the weakened, tired heart could not support the burden of the painful mending period. God called her to himself to reward her for her long years of fidelity and service to Him.
