Sister M. Columba Caffrey, IHM
Sister M. Columba Caffrey, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, January 24, 1929 at St. Rose Convent in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
She was born on April 13, 1882 in White Haven, Pennsylvania, and given the name Lucy. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Elizabeth (Eliza) Mackesy (or Mac Asy) Caffrey. She entered the IHM Congregation on October 2, 1902, received the religious habit on July 2, 1903, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1905.
Sister Columba served as music teacher at the following schools: St. Paul School in Scranton, PA; Holy Rosary School in Scranton; St. Leo School in Ashley, PA; St. Patrick School in Olyphant, PA; Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse, NY; and St. Rose School in Carbondale, PA.
She is survived by five sisters, Sister M. Nepomucene, IHM, of Scranton, PA; Sister M. Cyrenia, IHM of Philadelphia, PA (Immaculata IHM branch); Mrs. Mary Lawless of East Orange, NJ: Mrs. T. McNamara of Philadelphia, PA; Anna and Julia (Jule) Caffrey both of Bethlehem, PA; a brother, John of Philadelphia, PA; nieces and nephews, including Sister M. Cyrenia, IHM and Sister Cyrenia Marie, IHM (Immaculata IHM branch).
Interment is at Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery in Carbondale, 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.
"Sister Mary Columba, Immaculate Heart of Mary, former music instructress in several local parishes in the Roman Catholic diocese, died at 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon in St. Rose convent, Carbondale, following a few days' illness. Since last September, she had been head of the music department in the St. Rose parochial school, Carbondale.
A native of Bethlehem, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Caffery, Sister Columba was professed at Mt. Saint Mary's Scranton, August 15, 1905. For the next tan (sic) years, she served as music instructress at St. Paul's, Green Ridge. Before assuming her last duties in Carbondale, she also acted in similar capacities at Holy Rosary, North Scranton; St. Leo's Ashley; St. Patrick's Olyphant; and Most Holy Rosary, Syracuse.
Surviving are: five sisters, Sister M. Cyrenia, I. H. of M. (Sic), Philadelphia; Sister M. Nepomucene, St. John's, South Scranton; Mrs. J. Lawless, East Orange, N. J., Mrs. T. McNamara, Philadelphia; Anna and Julia Caffery, Bethlehem; and a brother, John, Philadelphia."
Published in Scranton Republican, Fri., Jan. 25, 1929
