Sister M. Pauline Kelly, IHM
Sister M. Pauline Kelly, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Regional Hospital in Scranton, PA.
She was born on November 1, 1933 in Scranton, PA, and given the name Ann. She was the daughter of the late Paul and Mildred Fahey Kelly. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1951 and made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1954 and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1957.
Sister Pauline served as a teacher at the following schools: Sacred Heart Elementary School in Mt. Holly, NJ, from 1954 to 1965; St. Mary of the Mount Elementary School in Pittsburgh, PA, from 1965 to 1966; St. John Elementary School in Pittston, PA, from 1971 to 1975; St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA, in 1976; Epiphany Elementary School in Sayre, PA, from 1981 to 1986; Wyoming Area Catholic Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1986 to 1988; Holy Cross High School in Delran, NJ, from 1988 to 1994.
Sister served as principal at the following schools: St. Patrick Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1966 to 1969; St. Leo Elementary School in Ashley, PA, from 1969 to 1971; St. Michael’s School for Boys in Hoban Heights, PA, from 1975 to 1976; and St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, PA, from 1976 to 1981.
From 1994 until the time of her death, Sister Pauline served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent, and Our Lady of Peace Residence, both in Scranton.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, and a Master of Science degree in education, both from Marywood College.
She is survived by a brother, Thomas of Placentia, CA, a sister, Frances Norton of Scranton, PA, a niece, Kathleen Norton of Scranton, PA, and nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral will be Thursday, March 12, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Wednesday, March 11, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will follow Mass on Thursday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
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.
Reflections given by Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM Congregation President
Sister Pauline Kelly, Wake 3/11/15
Good afternoon, Sisters and Friends,
We gather this afternoon to celebrate the beautiful gift of the life of Sister Pauline Kelly. Our hearts are full of gratitude for this special woman who served God so faithfully throughout her life.
During her sixty-one years of religious life, Pauline witnessed her love and dedication to God and to serving others. She taught for forty years in several different elementary schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and served as principal for eleven of those years. We give thanks, too, for her years as a small group reading instructor in Delran, NJ. She especially loved helping the students who had difficulty reading because she knew that their future success in life depended on their overcoming this deficiency. Countless doors to brighter futures were open because of Pauline’s love, patience, and dedication to her students. For the past twenty-one years, Sister Pauline has served as a prayer minister, first at the Marian Convent and then here at Our Lady of Peace.
Pauline’s kindness, welcoming spirit and gracious manner endeared her to all. She simply treasured the gift of each person she met. Of course, I think we all know that Pauline was never at a loss for words when it came to almost any topic, but I think it was that open, engaging spirit that drew us into the special gift she was to us all.
Pauline will be missed by all of us, but we rejoice that she is now at home with her God, whom she loved and served so well, and enjoying eternal life with her parents, Mildred and Paul.
We pray for her sister, Frances, and her brother, Thomas, her nieces, Kathy and Ann, her cousin, Fr. E. Francis Kelly, her other nieces, nephews, and family members, her Band members, all her many IHM friends, and the sisters and staff here at Our Lady of Peace Residence. We ask the God of all consolation to comfort them at this time of loss.
And so, let us pray now in deep gratitude…
Ever faithful God, we gather today with hearts filled with gratitude as we celebrate the life of our Sister Pauline. We know that she is at peace in the arms of her God whom she served so faithfully during her life. Her days among us spoke of her trust in God and her great love for her family and friends, her IHM Congregation, and the students to whom she ministered. Her heart was always open to all and we warmly remember her as a kind person who was unassuming, dedicated, and welcoming to others.
Sister Pauline lived and ministered among us as an IHM Sister for over sixty-one years of joyful, loving service. We are grateful for her forty years in the ministry of education. She served as a junior high teacher and also for many years as a principal in eleven elementary schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We give thanks, too, for her years as a small group reading instructor in Delran, NJ. She especially loved helping the students who had difficulty reading because she knew that their future success in life depended on their overcoming this deficiency. Countless doors to brighter futures were open because of Pauline’s love, patience, and dedication to her students. For the past twenty-one years, Sister Pauline has served as a prayer minister, first at the Marian Convent and then here at Our Lady of Peace. We rejoice in the gift of Pauline’s life and her faithful and selfless presence among us.
We pray that her sister, Frances, and her brother, Thomas, her nieces, Kathy and Ann, her cousin, Fr. E. Francis Kelly, her other nieces, nephews, and family members, and her dear friend of sixty-four years, Sr. Annellen, will be comforted in this time of loss.
We remember today her parents, Mildred and Paul, who are now reunited with her as she is welcomed into the joy of eternal life by the God she loved and served so well.
O God, we give you our gratitude for Pauline’s holy life and pray that perpetual light and happiness will shine upon her for all eternity. Amen.
Sister Pauline Kelly, Funeral 3/12/15
Good morning, Sisters and Friends,
As we gather in prayer to celebrate the beautiful gift of Sister Pauline Kelly’s life with us, I want to welcome her sister, Frances, her nieces, Kathy and Ann, and other members of her family, members of her Band, and her friends who are able to be with us today. Our hearts are full of gratitude for this special woman who served God so faithfully throughout her life.
A special welcome and thank you to our celebrant, Fr. Frank Kelly, a cousin of Pauline’s, and to Msgr. Feldcamp, who, through his sister Mary’s close friendship with Sr. Pauline, also became one of her dear friends.
I want to thank Srs. Jean, Mary Kay, and Eleanor Mary, the administrators of Our Lady of Peace, and the wonderful nurses and staff who took such good care of Sister Pauline during her years here.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; My spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
As I reflected on Pauline’s eighty-two years of life, sixty-one of which were as an IHM sister, these words from the Magnificat prayer printed on the back of her prayer card truly capture the essence of what made her so special to those who were fortunate enough to know her. Her love for others was deeply rooted in her love for God, and she shared that love tirelessly and faithfully every day. She rejoiced wholeheartedly in the gift of life given to her, even with its health complications, and never failed to lend a gentle hand wherever needed, a word, or more likely, many words to lift someone’s spirit, and the ever-present warm smile to brighten a friend’s day. Pauline never took life for granted, but truly lived the life she was granted to the full in service to God and others, and our lives are better and brighter for her presence among us.
We recall the ways Sister Pauline lived and ministered among us as sister, friend, companion, educator, and mentor during her sixty-one years of religious life. She taught in several elementary schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and was also a principal for eleven years. For the past twenty-one years, she served as a prayer minister, first at the Marian Convent and then here at Our Lady of Peace. Pauline never forgot a name and kept in touch with many former students and friends from the various places she served. She truly loved working with her students, especially those who needed extra attention. Countless doors to brighter futures were opened because of Pauline’s love, patience, and dedication. I met a couple of her students from Mount Holly at the prayer service here yesterday, and they recounted with great love some of their memories of Pauline. In summing up her influence on them, one said, “You know, Sr. Pauline is a legend in Mount Holly even today.” What a perfect way to describe this wonderful woman’s impact on all of us who knew and loved her.
Pauline’s kindness, welcoming spirit and gracious manner endeared her to all. She simply treasured the gift of each person she met. Of course, as several noted yesterday, Pauline was never at a loss for words when it came to almost any topic, but I believe it was that open, engaging spirit of hers that drew us into the special gift she was to us all. For us, Pauline, you were indeed a wonderful, living legend and we shall miss you.
We pray today for Pauline’s sister, Frances, and her brother, Thomas, her nieces, Kathy and Ann, her cousin, Fr. Kelly, her other dear family members and friends, her Band members and her many IHM friends, especially those who shared life with her here at Our Lady of Peace. We ask the God of all consolation to comfort them at this time of loss.
Even in our sadness that Pauline will no longer be with us here on earth, we rejoice that she is now in the presence of God and all the angels and saints, including her parents, Mildred and Paul, and her other deceased relatives and dear friends. I’m not sure any of them, including God, has had much chance to get a word in since Pauline joined them last Saturday, but I think we can all imagine the great joy in heaven at this reunion.
____ will now place the scriptures on Pauline’s casket, for indeed she heard the Word of God, she staked her life upon it and received life to the full. The Word now beckons her home.
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2015 issue
Sister M. Pauline Kelly was “the Storyteller”. She began her penchant for entertaining as a fortune-teller at the age of four. Her skills developed through elocution lessons a few years later and again in her high school plays, culminating during her teaching career. She had an anecdote for every situation imaginable. As a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teacher, an aunt and great-aunt, a caregiver and a patient, she offered her songs and her stories as a gift to each of us. This was how she shared the people she loved with one another.
She so enjoyed her many years of teaching and nurturing young people. Her countless student stories were a testament to the fact that she saw the value and the possibility in every one of her charges, each worth her best effort and all worth remembering. She was a talented, hard working teacher, principal, religious instructor, learning support provider, and tutor. From Mount Holly, New Jersey, throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to Rocky Mount, North Carolina and back to Delran, New Jersey where she taught her former students’ children, all her days as an educator were truly rewarding.
After declining health ended her forty-year teaching career, her attention for detail and common sense led her to the Housekeeping Department at the Marian Convent and then as a helper in the Business Office at the IHM Center. With a mutual respect for and from her coworkers, she was happy to be still using her mind and her talents for the benefit of others.
New challenges led her to Our Lady of Peace Residence. She was so grateful for the beautiful place in which she lived and for the care she received. All who offered assistance needed plenty of time to talk, or maybe just listen. We thank each
of you.
Sister Pauline had dear and faithful friends, living and deceased, from her high school days, to her former students and especially among her beloved IHM Congregation. She loved and respected you. We know because she shared fond memories of each of you. She was also the counselor, historian, grammar tutor, cheerleader and prayer minister for our family. She was proud of us, (we’re sure you, too, have heard stories and we thank you for listening, probably more than once) and we were proud of her.
Although it was suggested that I write about 300 words, in honor of the true nature of Sister Pauline, I chose to include just a few more. On behalf of her entire family, be assured that we smile now because we know so many of you through the lovingly told stories of a wonderful woman.
by Kathleen Norton and Ann Connell
