Sister M. Consolata Ball, IHM
Sister M. Consolata Ball, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, July 1, 1966 at Mercy Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on October 14, 1896 in Archbald, Pennsylvania, and given the name Marie Margaret. She was the daughter of the late William H. and Bridget Loftus Ball. She entered the IHM Congregation on August 15, 1917, received the religious habit on January 3, 1918, and made profession of her vows on December 27, 1919.
Sister Consolata served as a nurse at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1919 to 1920; and St. Joseph's Children and Maternity Hospital in Scranton, PA, from 1920 to 1928.
Sister Consolata also served as nursing supervisor at St. Joseph's Hospital in Carbondale, PA, from 1928 to 1929 and 1944 to 1945; nursing supervisor and director of nurses at St. Joseph's Children and Maternity Hospital in Scranton, PA, from 1929 to 1942; nursing supervisor at St. Joseph's Children and Maternity Hospital in Scranton, PA, from 1948 to 1957.
She served as a prayer minister at St. Agnes Place in Elmhurst, PA, from 1942 to 1944, and from 1945 to 1948.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Joseph and Ambrose.
She is survived by a sister, Sister M. Benigna, IHM, of Scranton; and several cousins, including Sister M. Charitas Loftus, IHM, of Scranton, PA.
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.
Remembering Sister M. Consolata Ball:
Sister Consolata was already a registered nurse when she entered the community, and was an asset in that capacity during her long religious life. She gave of herself unstintingly at both St. Joseph's Hospital in Carbondale and St. Joseph's Children and Maternity Hospital in Scranton. The latter was perhaps her great love, as these little unwanted ones made their way into her great heart. She was the mother of the "motherless."
She was a "soul of generosity," with a "heart of gold" which made her a gift to the residents at St. Joseph's Children and Maternity Hospital. This sister of Sister Benigna served there in a kind, consoling, motherly way that was natural to her Christ-like, Mary-like personality. Together Sister Benigna and Consolata often had a "ball."
