Sister M. Aloisa McHugh, IHM
Sister M. Aloisa McHugh, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Friday, April 11, 2008 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
She was born on August 12, 1907 in Olyphant, PA, and given the name Marjorie. She was the daughter of the late Anthony and Bridget McDonnell McHugh. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1934, made her temporary profession of vows on May 3, 1937, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1941. Sister Aloisa was an elementary teacher all of her religious life, and she served in schools located in Rhode Island, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Sister Aloisa served as teacher at the following schools: St. Rita Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1937 to 1940 and 1969 to 1970; St. Mary Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1940 to 1942; St. Paul Elementary School in Cranston, RI, from 1942 to 1945; St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1945 to 1948; St. Mary Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, MD, from 1948 to 1955; St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay, NY, from 1955 to 1956; Archbishop Neale School in La Plata, MD, from 1956 to 1962; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD, from 1962 to 1969 and 1983 to 1987; Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1970 to 1974; St. Paul Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1974 to 1977; and Our Lady of Peace Elementary School in Clark's Green, PA, from 1981 to 1982.
She also served as a librarian at Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1982 to 1983.
From 1987 to 1996, Sister Aloisa engaged in the ministry of prayer at St. John the Evangelist Convent in Silver Spring, MD, and from 1996 until the time of her death at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence, both in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Marywood College.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Patrick, Edward, and Aloysius, and four sisters, Sarah and Sadie who died in infancy, Helen Haggerty and Mary Brink.
She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, and by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Wednesday, April 16, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Interment will follow Mass on Wednesday at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Tuesday, April 15, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m.
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.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2008 issue
I’ll never forget the day Sister Aloisa was introduced to our seventh grade class. Our particular group was very active and occasionally a boy’s book would ‘fall’ to the floor. When Sister Aloisa turned toward us to accept the introduction by our principal, there was a gentle ‘aah’ throughout the room and every one of us sat up straighter, for there she stood – this beautiful, smiling young sister. From that moment on Sister had each of us in the palm of her hand. Needless to say, our parents were pleased that we were happy and eager to be early for school and frequently offered to remain after school to erase the boards or to carry Sister’s books over to the convent. We just enjoyed being in her presence because she talked about God and the saints.
Sister Aloisa loved children and cherished the opportunity to teach the little ones. When she slowed down a bit physically she chose to remain with children, tutoring the young ones and encouraging them each step of the way.
It was years later when I, as a professed IHM, had the privilege to live in community with Aloisa. She was no longer young but always beautiful and gentle in her ways. I soon realized that her shining beauty was the glow of her inner life with her Divine Lord. I did not meet Sister Aloisa again until I retired and took up residence in our beautiful, new Our Lady of Peace Residence. She met me in our dining room with a big smile and said, “You were my pupil” and I replied, “And you were my teacher.” This little exchange became our daily greeting. Some months later she slowed down considerably but always kept her inner peace and her radiant smile.
We learn from scripture that we have been made in the image of a loving God. It certainly seems that Sister Aloisa had taken on that image to a remarkable degree. We know that the God she served so faithfully with her trademark smile has received her with open arms, and of course, a loving smile.
by Sr. Anne Fulwiler, IHM
