Obituary

 

Sister M. Lucetta Butler, IHM

Sister M. Lucetta Butler, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, August 9, 1997 at the Marian Convent in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

She was born on January 14, 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and given the name Catherine E.  She was the daughter of the late James and Mary Spellman Butler.  She entered the Congregation on August 15, 1923, made her temporary profession of vows on August 15, 1925, and her final profession of vows on December 8, 1930.

Sister Lucetta served as a teacher and or principal at the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1925 to 1936; All Saints High School in Masontown, PA, from 1926 to 1932; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY, from 1932 to 1938; St. Joseph High School in Renovo, PA, from 1938 to 1948; St. Alphonsus High School in New York, NY, from 1948 to 1949 and 1956 to 1961; St. Joseph High School in New Bern, NC, from 1949 to 1952; Immaculate Conception High School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1952 to 1956; and St. Mary of the Mount High School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1965 to 1968.

Sister Lucetta also served as a Resident Hall Directress at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1961 to 1962; first superior (administrator) of the IHM Novitiate in Scranton, PA, from 1962 to 1965; and the coordinator of the IHM guild at Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY from 1968 to 1981.

From 1981 to 1986, Sister Lucatta served as a prayer minister at St. Rosalia Convent in Pittsburgh, PA, and from 1986 until the time of her death, she served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

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

She was preceded in death by a brother, James, and five sisters Margaret (Peggy) Green, Winifred Cain, Ellen (Pat) Monahan, Mary Tormey and Sally Reilly.

She is survived by five nieces, Jeanne Monahan, Rita Randall and Kate Deger, all of Pittsburgh, PA; Mary O’Connor of Massachusetts; Peg Clancy of New Jersey; eight nephews, James Reilly of California; John Reilly of Washington, DC; Joseph Cain, Thomas Cain, Robert Cain, John Green, James Butler, Thomas Monahan all of Pittsburgh, PA; and Thomas Butler of Massachusetts; and grandnieces and grandnephews.

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:

Teacher, mentor and loving caregiver, Sister Lucetta touched the lives of countless persons throughout her 94 years. Sister Lucetta's service as a principal and teacher endeared her to children and parents at schools located in Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina.  Her generosity to those she encountered knew no human measure as she reached out in ministry and within the IHM Congregation with devotion and fidelity.