Sister M. Davidica Kildea, IHM
Sister M. Davidica Kildea, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on Friday, March 19, 1982 at the Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after an illness.
She was born on May 17, 1901 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and given the name Veda. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary Jane Dutton Kildea. She entered the IHM Congregation on April 30, 1922, received the religious habit on August 15, 1922, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1924.
Sister Davidica served as a music teacher at St. John School in Susquehanna, PA.
In 1925, Sister came to the Music Department at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, where she served as a professor of vocal music until 1980. She will be remembered for the many concerts and musicals which the Music Department produced at the Masonic Temple, and later at Marywood's Fine Arts Theatre.
From 1980 until the time of her death, Sister Davidica served as a prayer minister at the IHM Generalate in Scranton, PA.
She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Marywood College and a Master of Arts degree in music from Columbia University. She did further graduate study at the Juilliard School of Music and the University of Michigan.
She is preceded in death by a sister, Teresa Mary.
She is survived by two brothers, Patrick of Bethesda, Maryland, and Harvey John (Jack) of St. Petersburg, Florida, two nephews and a niece. A cousin, Sister M. St. Teresa Healy, IHM, is the archivist for the IHM Congregation in Scranton, PA.
The funeral will be Monday, March 22 at the IHM Generalate with Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow, Pennsylvania. Friends may call at the IHM Generalate on Sunday 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:
A daughter of the late Charles and Mary Jane Dutton Kildea, she was born on May 17, 1901 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and given the name Veda. By 1904, the Kildea family had moved to Spokane, Washington. She received her early education at the IHM Academy in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and entered the IHM Congregation (Scranton) in 1922.
Sister Davidica served as a music teacher for one year at St. John School in Susquehanna, then she came to the Music Department of Marywood College in 1925, and was professor of vocal music there until her retirement in 1980. She is remembered for the many concerts and musicals which the Music Department produced in the Masonic Temple and later in Marywood's Fine Arts Theatre on campus.
