Sister Jeanne DeNardo, IHM
Sister Jeanne DeNardo, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Catherine deRicci) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, December 9, 2006, at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC.
She was born on December 11, 1935, in Altoona, PA, and was the daughter of the late Julius M. and Catherine Grassi DeNardo. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1959, made temporary profession of her vows on August 4, 1961, and final profession of her vows on August 15, 1966.
Sister Jeanne served as a music teacher at the following schools: Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA, from 1961 to 1964; All Saints Elementary School in Masontown, PA, from 1964 to 1967; Holy Rosary High School in Scranton, PA, from 1967 to 1968; Archbishop Neale High School in La Plata, MD, from 1968 to 1970; St. Raymond Elementary School in East Rockaway, NY, from 1970 to 1978; St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington, NY, from 1978 to 1983; Little Flower Elementary School in Bethesda, MD, from 1983 to 1992; St. Mary Elementary School in Altoona, PA, from 1992 to 1993.
From 2002 until the time of her death, Sister Jeanne served as a music teacher at Little Flower Elementary School, and as a minister to the elderly, and coordinator of the youth choir at Little Flower Parish, both in Bethesda, MD.
She received a Bachelor’s degree in music education from Marywood College, and a Master’s degree in music education from New York University.
She is survived by a cousin, Guy DeNardo of Altoona, PA.
The funeral will be Thursday, December 14, at 10:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at The Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue Bethesda, MD. Interment will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call at the The Church of the Little Flower, on Wednesday, December 13, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 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 2007 issue
How could a day that started out so normally end the way it did? That was a question all of us were asking as we faced the sudden death of Sr. Jeanne. In a short span of three hours, life changed very dramatically for us as we witnessed life and death.
Jeanne was in the midst of planning her annual Christmas concert. On Thursday she practiced with every section of the school and was all set to prepare for the big event. Little did we or she realize that God had other plans for her.
No matter how she felt, Sr. Jeanne always remarked that when she was with the children she always felt better. Music was her life. She loved to sing, to find songs and Church hymns that were meaningful for children. Her classes in school began with the usual warm-ups and the singing of the Hail Mary. At her funeral Mass the students filled the Church with this sound and it truly resonated throughout our whole school community. Her liturgy was special as all of the music had special significance for Jeanne and it was truly a celebration of her life.
Sickness and death were no strangers to Jeanne in that she experienced them in her family and she was always there to lend her help and support to others. She was a true and loyal friend.
Jeanne died on December 9, 2006. She was buried on Friday, December 15, at St. Catherine’s, the very day that she was to have had her Christmas concert.
May she rest in peace.
by The Sisters at Little Flower Convent, Bethesda, MD
