Sister Maria Dominic McDonald, IHM
Sister Maria Dominic McDonald, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, March 18, 1967, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
She was born on February 13, 1890 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and given the name Mary. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Susan Toner McDonald. She was a member of St. Paul Parish in Belfast, Ireland. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 30, 1926, received the religious habit on December 29, 1926, and made profession of her vows on January 2, 1929.
Sister Maria Dominic served in child care for resident children at the following: Marywood Seminary in Scranton, PA, from 1929 to 1931; St. Patrick's Orphanage in Scranton, PA, from 1931 to 1948; St. Joseph's Shelter in Scranton, PA, from 1952 to 1956; St. Agnes Convent in Washington, NC, from 1956 to 1958; and St. Mary's Home in Cresson, PA, from 1958 to 1966. She also served as a domestic at St. Michael's Industrial School for Boys in Hoban Heights, PA, from 1948 to 1952.
From 1966 until the time of her death, Sister Maria Dominic served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Joseph, Henry, Martin, Edward and Frank, and a sister, Susan.
She is survived by a sister, Ellen, 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.
The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary benefited from the efforts to bring young women from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Over the years a total of sixty-five young women became professed IHM religious. Their services were received as far west at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the IHM Academy and at St. Edward School, Twin Falls, Idaho. The southern missions witnessed their dedication in Washington, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was remarked that black children in some southern schools were speaking with an Irish brogue! The Sisters from Ireland also served in many locations in Pennsylvania, such as Dushore, Lock Haven, Exeter, Altoona, Pittsburgh, St. Michael's School in Hoban Heights, Cresson, Pittston, Scranton, and Williamsport. New York and Rhode Island missions also received their services.
Excerpted from The Story of the Native Irish Sisters Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton Pennsylvania by Sister M. Michel Keenan, IHM, 2006, p.18
