Sister Mildred McCloskey, IHM
Sister Mildred McCloskey, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Avila) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, April 21, 2019, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was born on November 22, 1918, in Jessup, PA. She was the daughter of the late James and Anabel Purcell McCloskey. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1943, and made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1946, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1950.
Sister Mildred served as a teacher at the following schools: Sacred Hearts Elementary School in New York, NY, in 1948; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1948 to 1949; St. Bernard Elementary School in Hastings, PA, from 1949 to 1952; St. Rosalia Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1952 to 1956; St. Rita Elementary School in Dundalk, MD, from 1956 to 1960; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1960 to 1964; Nativity Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1964 to 1965; St. Matthew Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, PA, from 1965 to 1968; St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1968 to 1971; and St. Rose Elementary School in Carbondale, PA, from 1971 to 1973.
She also served on the office staff at St. Joseph Elementary School in Williamsport, PA, from 1976 to 1977; as staff member at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA, from 1977 to 1978; and support staff at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA, from 1973 to 1976 and 1978 to 2008.
From 2008 until the time of her death, Sister Mildred was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in business/social science from Marywood College.
She is preceded in death by three brothers, Eugene, William, and John "Jack".
She is survived by a sister, Maryclaire O’Dea of West Chester, PA; nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Saturday, April 27, at 9:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Friday, April 26, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Saturday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
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.
Funeral: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/121493493
Vespers: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/121483143
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2019 issue
Reflection given by Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM Congregation President
Sister Mildred McCloskey, IHM, funeral on April 27, 2019
Good Morning! Today we celebrate the life of our dear Sister Mildred McCloskey. We welcome her beloved nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews and we pray for her natural sister Mary Claire O’Dea who is unable to join us. We also welcome our sisters and friends who join us via livestream and our celebrant Father Mark Ward, C.P.
We extend our deepest thanks to the staff of households 1 A and just recently 1 C and the administrators of Our Lady of Peace Residence Sisters Mary Kay and Kate and Jamie Mancuso, the nursing staff and the pastoral team as well as all those who, behind the scenes, cared for Sister Mildred for the past ten years. We thank you all!
Sisters, family and friends, Sister Mildred was one-hundred years old and was blessed with a long life. She lived to see history made and she created her own history serving as a teacher in schools in New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania for over thirty plus years. Many of us will remember her time as a staff person at the Marion Convent and as the receptionist at our IHM Center where she often provided advice and words of wisdom to our youngest members of the congregation, the postulants, novices and temporary professed. I have my own memories of Sister Mildred directing me as to how not to get into trouble and how to avoid potential conflicts. Her words of wisdom were always on target and deeply appreciated.
When she wasn’t providing direction and on her days off, Sister could be found in the Globe Store and other local stores. She was an avid shopper who regularly took the bus to downtown Scranton, an outing she loved. She was always on the hunt for good bargains and often found them.
We will also remember Sister Mildred for her humor, generosity of spirit, and always her willingness to help others. Her gentleness and great smile were a blessing to many even to the last days of her life. She gave us wonderful examples of simplicity, humility, joy and faith. These are only some of the hallmarks of her remarkable life.
Above all, Sister Mildred was a women who steeped herself in prayer and love of her God. She loved her IHM vocation of seventy-three years with every fiber of her being. How good of God to leave her with us all these years, and what a gift he gave to us in her! May she now enjoy the rewards of heaven, rewards well deserved. And may she closely accompany each of us on this journey of fidelity and love.
We will miss you Sister Mildred: your peaceful, prayerful presence: your graciousness, good humor, and your beautiful, loving smile. Rest in the embrace of God and know you are ever a part of our lives and our hearts.
Amen!
We now invite Sisters Family to Place her Bible on the Casket.
