Sister M. Perpetua Doyle, IHM
Sister M. Perpetua Doyle, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Monday, July 8, 1940.
She was born on May 12, 1858 in Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania, and given the name Elizabeth (Eliza). She was the daughter of the late Michael and Bridget Buttler Doyle. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1882, received the religious habit on March 27, 1883, and made profession of her vows on April 6, 1885.
Sister Perpetua enjoyed her years of teaching children in our IHM mission schools, including at St. John the Evangelist School in Scranton, PA.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine.
Interment is at Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton, 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.
"After Saint Patrick's, the parish of Saint John the Evangelist was established, August 1, 1886. The temporary structure which its first pastor. Reverend R. A. McAndrew, erected, was from its shape called facetiously, "The Wigwam." At the invitation of the zealous pastor, the Sisters from Saint Cecilia's conducted a Sunday school there for the children of the parish. The corner-stone of a new church, a combination building, part of which was to serve as a school, was commenced in 1886. It was dedicated, April 7, 1887, and in the September following, the school was opened. No convent could be provided at the time, but the generous pastor rented a residence for himself and gave the rectory over to the use of the Sisters. Sister M. Alphonsine was appointed superior. With her the following Sisters made up the first community: Sister M. Gertrude, Sister M. Perpetua, Sister M. Veronica, Sister M. Ignatius, Sister M. Mercedes, Sister M. Paul, and Sister M. Joachim. The school was successful from the beginning, due mainly to the untiring zeal of the good pastor who realized that the religious training of the children was the best augury for the welfare of the parish in the future."
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. 194
