Sister M. Hilary King, IHM
Sister M. Hilary King, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, November 15, 1940.
She was born on March 21, 1865 in Gleason, Pennsylvania, and given the name Catharine. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Bridget Dwyer King. She entered the IHM Congregation on April 10, 1889, received the religious habit on October 3, 1889, and made profession of her vows on August 2, 1891.
Sister Hilary enjoyed her years of teaching children in our IHM mission schools, including All Saints School in Masontown, PA. She also served as a volunteer in Throop, PA, during the Spanish Flu of 1918.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Francis and Matthew, and a sister, Sister Mary Waltrude, RSM.
She is survived by a sister, Mary Louise McCarthy of Kane, PA, nieces and nephews.
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.
"All Saints', Masontown, was the second school opened in the Pittsburg Diocese by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. The school was opened September 25, 1911. Sister M. Pancratius was the first superior. With her were associated Sister M. Patricia, Sister M. Hilary, Sister M. Carmelita, and Sister M. Padua. Many of the students come in from the surrounding country places, walking long distances each day. They are rarely absent and their eagerness to learn makes the task of teaching them a delightful one. There is a large music class and these music loving children have organized among themselves a very creditable orchestra. The school is a recreational as well as an educational centre. There is a large auditorium perfect in all its appointments. Here the pupils give plays from time to time, that never fail to draw large audiences. Father Kolb has also installed a moving picture machine. Masontown bids fair to become one of the finest cultural centres in Pennsylvania." 329
Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 327 and 329
"The year 1918 will long be remembered for the terrible scourge that followed in the wake of the World War, the mysterious and dreaded Spanish influenza.
Mother at once telephoned to the different convents nearby to ask for volunteers to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in this public distress. From all directions came hearty responses of willingness to take up the work of charity. Like requests were sent to all the houses of the Immaculate Heart, and in every place where these houses were located, the sick and suffering poor had reason to bless the kindly ministration of the Sisters.
Sisters M. Hilary and M. Julia, of South Scranton, and Sisters M. Felix and M. Alonzo, of North Scranton, hastened to the help of the Sisters in Throop, whose heroic work there was earning commendation on all sides."
Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 441 and 443
