Sister M. Florian Flannelly, IHM
Sister M. Florian Flannelly, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, October 9, 1983 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Carbondale, PA, after an illness.
She was born on February 17, 1891 in County Mayo, Ireland, and given the name Catherine. She was the daughter of the late Anthony and Bridget Ferguson Flannelly. She entered the IHM Congregation on March 25, 1915, received the religious habit on July 6, 1915, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1917.
Sister Florian served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Renovo, PA, from 1919 to 1925; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1925 to 1937; St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1937 to 1942; St. Mary, Help of Christians Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1942 to 1954; St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1954 to 1957; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1957 to 1966; and Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School in Forty-Fort, PA, from 1966 to 1970.
Sister served as principal and superior at St. Mary, Help of Christians Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1942 to 1954.
From 1970 until the time of her death, Sister Florian served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.
She is preceded in death by a brother, Michael.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Wednesday with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in the Marian Convent Chapel. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent Tuesday afternoon or evening.
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 Remembrance:
Sister M. Florian Flannelly served for over fifty years as a teacher of primary, intermediate, and junior high levels. She was assigned to St. Joseph in Renovo; St. John in Pittston; St. Patrick in Scranton; St. Mary in West Pittston; St. Joseph in Williamsport; Holy Rosary in Scranton; and Holy Name in Forty Fort. She also served as principal and superior at St. Mary in Pittston. Because of poor health, she became a resident at the Marian Convent in 1970.
The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary benefited from the efforts to bring young women from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Over the years a total of sixty-five young women became professed IHM religious. Their services were received as far west at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the IHM Academy and at St. Edward School, Twin Falls, Idaho. The southern missions witnessed their dedication in Washington, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was remarked that black children in some southern schools were speaking with an Irish brogue! The Sisters from Ireland also served in many locations in Pennsylvania, such as Dushore, Lock Haven, Exeter, Altoona, Pittsburgh, St. Michael's School in Hoban Heights, Cresson, Pittston, Scranton, and Williamsport. New York and Rhode Island missions also received their services.
Excerpted from The Story of the Native Irish Sisters Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton Pennsylvania by Sister M. Michel Keenan, IHM, 2006, p.18
