Obituary

 

Sister M. Bernardine Rinkavage, IHM

Sister M. Bernardine Rinkavage, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on February 8, 2005, at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

Born on March 7, 1914 in Susquehanna, PA, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Agnes Bocianski Rinkavage. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1932 and made her temporary profession of vows on April 30, 1935 and her final profession of vows on August 1, 1938.

Sister Bernardine served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Dunmore, from 1935 to 1940; St. Leo High School in Ashley, from 1952 to 1956; Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, from 1956 to 1966; South Catholic High School in Scranton, from 1966 to 1967; Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, from 1980 to 1993; and Maria Regina Diocesan School in Uniondale, NY. She also served at schools in located in Pittsburgh, PA; La Plata, MD; Providence, RI; and Manhasset, NY.

Sister M. Bernardine served as a prayer minister while residing at Cathedral Convent in Scranton from 1993 to 2001. From 2001 until the time of her death she served as prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Latin from Marywood College, and a Master of Arts Degree in education from Villanova University.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Teresa Desnoyers and Genevieve Jaxheimer.

She is survived by a brother, Neil of Sebastian of FL; a sister, Frances Hoban of Apache Junction, AZ; nieces, nephews ; and grandnieces and grandnephews.

The funeral will be Saturday, February 12 at 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at the Marian Convent followed by interment at St. Catherine Cemetery, Moscow.  Friends may call on Friday afternoon after 2:00 p.m. at the Marian Convent. 

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.


Prayer for Sister M. Bernardine Rinkavage, IHM:

O loving God, today we recall with heartfelt gratitude the good life of Sister Bernadine. Her nearly seventy years as a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were dedicated to you through the many students who were the benefactors of her love for teaching. From her fist days of ministry at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel School in Dunmore to her last days of joyful, loving service here at the Marian Convent, Sister Bernadine blessed us with her quiet smile. We will miss her kind expression and gentle presence.

We bring thoughts of her goodness to our prayer as we also remember the other members of her family, whom she loved so dearly, and who will greet her in the presence of the eternal God: her parents, Agnes and Bernard, and her sisters, Teresa and Genevieve.

We pray in a special way for those who are saddened that she will no longer be with us, especially her brother Neil and her sister Frances, and the wonderful staff here at the Marian Convent, who have loved her and cared for her during these last years of her life while this was her home.

Her Sisters in community, family members, and friends who have walked life’s journey with Sister Bernadine have been blessed by her smile and peaceful spirit. We thank you, God, for this cherished life, and praise you for the ways in which we have seen your face in hers. Eternal life grant to Sister Bernadine, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her and all your faithful departed. Amen.