Sister M. Bernita McDonough, IHM
Sister M. Bernita McDonough, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Monday, October 23, 1989, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.
She was born on June 20, 1915 in Wigan, England, and given the name Agnes A. She was the daughter of the late James and Helen O'Rourke McDonough. She and her family later immigrated to the United States, and settled in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1933, received the religious habit on April 24, 1934, and made profession of her vows on April 30, 1936.
Sister Bernita served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, PA; St. Edward Elementary School in Twin Falls, ID; Holy Angels School in Hayes, PA; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY; and St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA. She also served at schools located in Bridgeport, CT, New Bern, NC, and Portland, OR. When the IHM Sisters withdrew from the Western missions, Sister Bernita continued to serve in a summer program at Twin Falls, Idaho, up to and including the summer of 1989.
Sister Bernita served as principal at Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Scranton, PA, and Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA.
Sister also served as an catechetical instructor at St. Peter's Catechetical Center in Wellsboro, PA.
From 1989 until the time of her death, Sister Bernita served as an instructor at the newly formed Educational Enrichment Center at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA.
She is survived by cousins, including first cousin, Helen Fletcher of San Jose, California.
The funeral will be Friday, October 27 with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Marian Convent chapel. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the Marian Convent Thursday 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:
She was born in Wigan, England and was the only child of the late James and Ellen Rourke McDonough. When the family came to the United States, they settled in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, and became a members of St. Patrick's Parish.
Beginning a long teaching career at St. Mary of Mount Carmel School in Dunmore, Sister Bernita went on to serve as principal at Immaculate Conception School, this city, and in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Most of her years, however, were spent ministering to the children and adults of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Portland, Oregon. When the IHM Sisters withdrew from the Western missions, Sister Bernita continued to serve in a summer program at Twin Falls, up to and including the summer of 1989. Her most recent assignment was to serve as a tutor in the newly formed Educational Enrichment Center at the IHM Center, Marywood.
