Sister M. Marguerite Murray, IHM
Sister M. Marguerite Murray, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, April 24, 1965 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She was born on November 15, 1876 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and given the name Ellen (Nellie). She was the daughter of the late Daniel and Margaret Corrigan Murray. She entered the IHM Congregation on January 6, 1903, received the religious habit on July 2, 1903, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1905.
Sister Marguerite served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA, from 1905 to 1906; St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1906 to 1909; Immaculate Conception Elementary School in West Pittston, PA, from 1909 to 1915; St. Bernard Parochial School in Hastings, PA, from 1915 tp 1916; St. Alphonsus Elementary School in New York, NY, from 1916 to 1917; St. Rosalia Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1917 to 1923; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1923 to 1924; St. Ann Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1924 to 1929 and 1943 to 1951; and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1929 to 1943.
From 1951 until the time of her death, Sister Marguerite served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.
She was preceded in death by six brothers, Ambrose, John, Charles H., Edward T., Daniel P., and Joseph, and sisters, Mary F., Isabella Barrett, Joanna, Anna L. Grimes and Josephine.
She is survived by 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.
Archival Remembrance:
God's little children, those of first grade, were the fond recipients of the loving heart and mind of our dear Sister M. Marguerite Murray. She was an outstanding primary teacher, using the best known methods of her day in opening the minds of the children to knowledge. She was a pioneer in the great missionary work started in West Pittston in 1911, when she was assigned to what was then an Italian mission of Saint Cecilia's parish, Exeter. Here her apostolic work bore rich fruit, and the prevailing proselytizing of the Italian children gradually ceased. When the pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs parish in Forest Hills, Long Island, solicited the Congregation for "religious ladies" to staff his magnificent new school, Sister M. Marguerite was assigned first grade. Here she taught with great success, and won her well-known reputation as a splendid teacher.
In the community, she was loved and revered. Her simplicity and humility endeared her to all. To many a recreation, she added sparkle and humor by her candid stories of her own experiences. The last years of her life brought suffering but never did her pleasant manner fail her. Full of years of loving service, she longed for heaven. May God richly reward Sister M. Marguerite's zealous, loving labor for His little ones.
