Obituary

 

Sister M. Bertrand Walton, IHM

Sister M. Bertrand Walton, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, November 11, 1950 at the IHM Motherhouse at Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

She was born on October 4, 1861 in Hawley, Pennsylvania, and given the name Alice.  She was the daughter of the late Michael and Catherine Caveney Walton.  She was one of four sisters to enter the IHM Congregation. She entered the IHM Congregation on April 18, 1892, received the religious habit on November 22, 1892, and made profession of her vows on January 1, 1895.

Sister Bertrand served as a teacher at the following schools: Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, PA; St. John the Evangelist High School in Scranton, PA; Holy Rosary High School in Scranton, PA; and St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA. 

Sister also served as a professor of mathematics at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1915 to 1947.

From 1947 until the time of her death, Sister Bertrand served as a prayer minister at the IHM Motherhouse.

She is preceded in death by three sisters, Sister M. Gonzaga, IHM; Sister M. Gonzaga, IHM; and Sister M. Jerome, IHM; and three brothers, James A., Michael W. and Thomas A.

She is survived by a brother, John J. of Scranton, PA; a sister, Agnes McAloon of Scranton, PA; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 14 at 9:30 a.m., interment will follow at Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Friends may call on Monday 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.


Below is an obituary written about our Sister M. Bertrand that was published after her funeral:

Sister Bertrand Claimed By Death; Funeral Tuesday

Sister M. Bertrand Walton, who was for 58 years a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died suddenly Saturday at Marywood, the motherhouse of the Congregation.

She was the daughter of the late Michael and Catherine Caveney Walton, Bellevue.  She entered the novitiate at St. Rose, Carbondale, in 1892, and made her religious profession in 1895.

She was professor of mathematics at the college from its founding in 1915 until her retirement three years ago.  Prior to that Sister Bertrand taught in the high schools of her community at Laurel Hill Academy, Susquehanna; St. John's, South Scranton; Holy Rosary, North Scranton; St. Cecilia's Academy (now St. Peter's Cathedral School), Scranton.

Members of the immediate family who survive are a sister, Mrs. Agnes McAloon, and a brother, John Walton, both of Scranton.  Three older sisters, now deceased, were members of the Sisters of I.H.M.  Three nieces, Sister M. Gonzaga, Nyack, N.Y.; Sister Augustine, New York City; and Sister M. Justa, Oyster Bay, L.I., and a cousin, Sister Mary Robert Gerrity, Cresson, Pa., are now members of the community.

Dr. Clarence Walton, member of the Scranton School Board, and serving on the faculties of both the University of Scranton and Marywood College, is a grand-nephew of the deceased.

A solemn high Mass was celebrated by Rev. Dr. Robert Walton, administrator of St. Stephen's Church, Kansas City, Mo., a cousin of the deceased. 

Rev. Dr. Thomas J. McHugh was deacon, and Rev. Dr. William A. O'Mara, subdeacon, and Rev. James M. Lowry and Rev. John Griffin, masters of ceremonies.

Several priests were seated in the sanctuary and many nuns from this area were seated in the body of the church.

Students of Marywood College, attired in their caps and gowns, formed a guard of honor around the campus as the body was taken from the chapel.  The students also formed a guard of honor at the graveside.

Casket bearers were: Terrence Gallagher, Frank O'Gorman, George Winterstein, William Rieger, Joseph Rocereto, and Frank Moore. 

Interment was in Cathedral Cemetery where offices of the Mass conducted a committal service.